Published: November 29, 2018

THE LAWRENCE COUNTY 911 BOARD MET IN REGULAR SESSION TODAY. THE MEETING BEGAN WITH THE APPROVAL OF FINANCIAL REPORTS THEN QUICKLY TURNED TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY, THE COUNTY, AND THE CITIES OF ST. JOESPH, ETHRIDGE AND LORETTO REGARDING DISPATCH SERVICES. IT WAS REPORTED THAT COUNTY EXECUTIVE T-R WILLIAMS WILL BE MEETING WITH THE APPOINTED COMMITTEE SOMETIME IN DECEMBER TO WORK WITH HIM TO AGRESSIVELY PURSUE AN ALTERNATE FUNDING MECHANISM SUCH AS AN EMERGENCY SERVICE FEE. ALL WERE IN AGREEANCE THAT THE USER FEE WOULD BE THE FAIREST ACROSS THE BOARD AND WOULD TAKE THE BURDEN OFF THE SMALLER ENTITIES. IT IS HOPED THAT SOME PROGRESS WILL BE MADE BEFORE JULY WHICH THE BOARD HAD PREVIOUSLY VOTED AS A DEADLINE TO ALLOW THE SMALLER MUNICIPALITIES TO WORK ON BUDGETING THE NEW EXPENDITURE. DIRECTOR CHEETWOOD REPORTED THAT THEY WILL BE RECEIVING A CHECK FOR 90 THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE STATE THIS YEAR DUE TO EXCESS REVENUE WHICH IS A BIG JUMP FROM WHAT THEY RECEIVED LAST YEAR. SOME OF THE ITEMS THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR INCLUDE UPDATES TO THE GENERATORS AND NEW CARPET IN THE RADIO ROOM. THE BOARD AND CHEETWOOD ALSO DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR PART TIMERS, OF WHICH THE CENTER CURRENTLY HAS 4 AND WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THAT NUMBER TO 12.