SUMMERDALE - The Summerdale town council is considering reducing its police jurisdiction from the current one and a half miles to a half mile. The town’s current planning jurisdiction is already set to a half mile. If the police jurisdiction were to be reduced, it would then match the town’s planning jurisdiction.

“Our ETJ, extra-territorial jurisdiction, is frozen with the new Chris Elliot bill that passed in Congress,” said Mayor David Wilson, in reference to Senate Bill 107, authored by Senator Chris Elliott (R-Daphne). “You do not grow your jurisdiction as you annex, what it is, is what it is.”

According to SB 107, municipalities can retract jurisdictions in increments of half a mile all the way to city limits, which would effectively do away with the jurisdiction. While some municipalities are doing just that, Summerdale is considering leaving its jurisdiction at a half mile from town limits. Under current state law, there is no mechanism to increase jurisdiction after a reduction takes place. Once a municipality makes a change, no further changes can be made for the following 24 months. Changes to the police jurisdiction will not go into effect until 2022.

“Do we roll back to half a mile, or not do it? It’s under consideration, it’s being considered so we can get some feedback on it, but we haven’t made a firm decision on it,” Wilson said. “We need to get more feedback from people, it’s a definitive announcement that the town of Summerdale is looking at pulling back to a half mile ETJ. We invite public feedback and will have public hearings to see what people say.” A map of the proposed ETJ will be posted during the meeting.

“We did a survey on all the business licenses that we currently have in our ETJ, and there’s probably about 30 or 35 businesses,” said Town Clerk Tiffany Lynn. She said the majority of those were for contractors. Wilson added if a contractor does work within town limits, they still have to buy a business license.

According to Wilson, reducing the police jurisdiction would lighten the load on the town’s police department. According to the records, the Summerdale Police Department has responded to approximately 2,700 calls made inside town limits this year, and 2,500 calls made from the ETJ. Wilson estimated approximately 25 percent less calls for the police department if the police jurisdiction was reduced.

“It would help us be able to concentrate a little more on problem areas,” Police Chief Kevin Brock said. “Right now, we police probably 50 square miles.” Brock said municipalities that have pulled back jurisdictions witnessed increased growth afterwards as requests came from those wanting to annex into town limits. Wilson said these people were looking to come under local first responder protection, town services, planning and zoning and to have a voice in local government.

Future meeting dates and agendas are posted outside of Summerdale Town Hall (502 West Lee Avenue). Town councils are held the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at Town Hall. Town workshops are held the Tuesday prior at 6 p.m.