Babbitt Mayor Asks Ely to Discuss Merging Police Departments Amid Staffing Shortfall

Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich approached the Ely City Council to request formal discussions about merging the two cities' police departments as Babbitt contends with staffing shortages and a budget shortfall. The request, made at an Ely meeting on February 12, 2026, places public safety cooperation squarely on the agenda for neighboring towns within St. Louis County.

The mayor's overture is a response to operational pressure in Babbitt that has strained its ability to maintain consistent patrol coverage and manage rising costs. A merger or shared-services arrangement could change how patrols are scheduled, how calls are dispatched, and how each city pays for policing. For residents, those changes carry practical implications: response times, visible neighborhood patrols, and local control over policing priorities could all be affected.

City leaders in Ely now face a decision about whether to explore consolidation further. Any path toward a merged department would likely involve detailed negotiations over budgets, staffing assignments, command structure, collective bargaining obligations, and long-term governance. Both city councils would need to analyze fiscal projections and operational plans, and residents can expect meetings and public comment opportunities as officials weigh options.

Merging police departments is one of several models for municipal collaboration. Cities sometimes pursue cooperative agreements that stop short of full consolidation, such as sharing investigators, joint training programs, or a unified dispatch center. Those models can yield cost savings while allowing each municipality to retain its own department and elected oversight. Conversely, a full merger could streamline administration but would require sustained negotiation about representation, funding formulas, and the terms under which officers would serve both communities.

For St. Louis County residents, the proposal underscores the fiscal and staffing pressures smaller cities face and the trade-offs inherent in delivering local services. Taxpayers in both Babbitt and Ely have a stake in whether consolidation would lower costs, preserve services, or shift responsibilities across municipal boundaries. Community priorities such as community policing, school resource officers, and response to rural calls are likely to shape local debate.

Next steps include follow-up sessions by the Ely City Council and likely further briefings from Babbitt officials on staffing projections and budget worksheets. Residents should watch upcoming council agendas and plan to attend meetings if they want to weigh in on how policing is organized in their neighborhoods and what the best path is for sustaining public safety.