An agreement to provide law enforcement services between Ashland County and the City of Mellen has been established. TheDailyPress report the agreement that begins July 1st, will provide residents with a deputy assigned to patrol the city for 40 hours a week, year-round. Mellen has had difficulty staffing its own police department, so the agreement will make sure the city has law enforcement and will be cost effective. When Mellen had its own police department, the cost to residents was about $170,000 year, with the new agreement, the cost will be $132,565 yearly. During patrol hours, the deputy will be the primary responder to all dispatched events and will have the authority to enforce all city ordinances. The deputy will operate in the city’s boundaries and will only leave if requested by the Sheriff’s Office in cases of mutual aid.