Mayor Tom Henry could have found a more tactful way of advising county officials he wants to revisit the joint homeland security agreement. But he was right to ask for the review.

On Feb. 2, Henry sent a letter to the Allen County commissioners giving the required 60 days’ notice that the city wants to end the agreement. Henry has concerns about the pact and wants to find a better arrangement. The letter was sent simply to meet the legal notification obligations, he said.

“Don’t you think a letter stating those concerns would be more appropriate than a letter saying he wants to cancel the agreement?” Commissioner Nelson Peters asked in response. On Friday, the commissioners sent a letter to Henry asking him to clarify his concerns by Feb. 17.

The situation is not as ominous as the epistolary exchange makes it appear.

The city and county created the single homeland security department in 2006 because working collaboratively would increase the community’s chances of getting state and federal homeland security dollars.

But Henry thinks the agreement was hastily written and lacks specificity about who, exactly, supervises the director.

“There was this accountability factor that concerned me,” Henry said. He also wants to revisit the agreement because it could save the city money, and homeland security is a county responsibility, according to state statute.

Under the agreement, the city pays for Homeland Security Director Bernie Beier’s salary, benefits and vehicle, although 25 percent of the costs are reimbursed by the county and half of his salary is reimbursed by the federal government. The city’s expenses are $45,355 plus a take-home vehicle.

“This is the agreement that provided a lot of the impetus for a lot of the collaboration that’s going on between the city and county right now,” Peters said. “And I don’t want to set that back.”

Henry said he is working on a new proposal that would keep the city involved in homeland security but likely at a reduced level.

Collaboration between the city and county serves the best interest of citizens. Fortunately, both sides appear willing to negotiate.