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The community building at Oakboro District Park hosted an overflowing crowd of citizens Monday night as the town’s administrator and commissioners addressed the public regarding recent developments with the town’s police department and former K-9 dogs.

In paperwork posted on the town’s Facebook page and printed out for citizens Monday, the draft contract for the agreement between the town and the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office will provide eight deputies permanently assigned to a new Oakboro Division. Deputies will use the police building during office hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and deputies will patrol the town nonstop.

According to the paperwork, the town and the Sheriff’s Office are still in contractual negotiations for law enforcement protection.

A lengthy public forum saw many citizens speak, expressing concerns ranging from a lack of transparency of the board and town staff to concerns about plans for the town’s police vehicles and other equipment.

Citizens also expressed concern for the funds raised for K-9 Joker and Bane, including former Oakboro officer Jason Eschert, who recently signed an agreement to take care of the dogs for the rest of their lives. Eschert, in his public comments, said he had raised in a week and a half through social media $21,000 for the dogs’ food, vet bills and any final expenses for when the dogs pass away.

Oakboro Town Administrator Georgia Harvey addressed citizens after a lengthy public forum. According to North Carolina statutes, she said the town’s K-9 fund, about $19,000, will stay in the town’s funds.

“In the future, we could rebuild the K-9 dogs, or based on North Carolina state statute, we can donate that money to another agency that has K-9 dogs,” Harvey said.

She said the town was acting on the advice of town attorney Al Benshoff.

Harvey attempted to continue her comments but stopped after several citizens began shouting.

Commissioner Bud Smith addressed citizens saying the town’s credibility is damaged “and suspect at best,” adding he had said to other people he “hadn’t signed up for this.”

“Here we are, but I’m not running away from this, either. Whomever asked me to resign doesn’t know Bud Smith. I never quit anything in my life and I sure don’t plan on quitting this. If you want to vote me out, fine,” Smith said. “You voted us in; you can vote us out. Quite frankly, I’m not going to lose a lot of sleep over that.”

“The past is the past and it can’t be undone,” he added. “You can’t undo what you did yesterday.”

Commissioner Lanny Hathcock, who serves as the town’s police commissioner, said after the meeting the contract “gives us time to rebuild (the department) if it is what the people want.”

“We would like this to be temporary, but I do not know if it will be,” Mayor Chris Huneycutt said after the meeting.

The two remaining Oakboro officers, Sgt. Shane Allen and Officer Payton James, will have the opportunity to apply for a position with the Sheriff’s Office. James said he would not be joining the Sheriff’s Office and was likely moving out of state.