HYDE PARK–A proposal to install a drug receptacle box in the foyer of City Hall was introduced at Wednesday night’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting by Mayor Bryan Cox.

The proposal, which came from North Park Police Department, is an effort to gain grant money for a free-standing box, similar to a mailbox that can only accept materials, so residents could dispose of remaining drugs at both North Logan and Hyde Park city halls.

According to Mayor Cox, North Park police feel that residents of both cities are too intimidated to bring unneeded drugs into the police station; such as prescription drugs of family members who have passed away.

The boxes would be mounted to the floor, and police would have the only key. Police proposed that the boxes would be emptied once a week and the contents would be taken to the evidence room at the police station. After a few weeks the drugs would then be taken to the USU Police Department to be incinerated, said Cox.

Cox mentioned that the city would have no idea as to what was put in the box, and if approved, the City Council would have to decide along with the police department what they would tell the public was appropriate to drop in the box.

“Obviously there is a lot of concern, and I’m concerned for our employees, just because some drugs make people do really crazy things, and I don’t want to put them at risk,” the mayor said.

The issue was brought up in the planning and zoning meeting because Mayor Cox wanted the opinion of commission member Bret Randall, who was once the sergeant over the drug task force with Logan City Police Department.

Randall said, “I think the role of the city is one of education, not of control.”

Mayor Cox said, “At this point I’m torn on doing it. I understand the greater good of society, but I’m also concerned about the risk the city has.”

He said Herriman is the only example of a city in Utah placing a drug receptacle in its city building.