Updated: January 9, 2018

MEMBERS OF THE LAWRENCE COUNTY 911 BOARD MET MONDAY NIGHT IN A SPECIAL SESSION TO DEVELOP A SOLUTION REGARDING THE NEW INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.    DISCUSSIONS PERTAINING TO THE AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND IN OCTOBER, PRIOR TO THE AGREEMENT EXPIRING, THE BOARD VOTED TO NOTIFY MUNICIPALITIES THAT THEY HAVE NINETY DAYS TO SHOW A GOOD FAITH EFFORT IN CONTRIBUTING FUNDS FOR THEIR DISPATCHES SERVICES OR THEY WILL NEED TO PROVIDE A NUMBER TO THE BOARD WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE THEIR CALLS FOR SERVICE TRANSFERRED.  THAT DEADLINE IS JANUARY 16TH.  REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL MUNICIPALITIES WERE PRESENT AT THE MEETING AS THEY TALKED IN LENGTH REGARDING COSTS AND ALTERNATIVE FUNDING MECHANISMS SUCH AS A UNIVERSAL USER FEE WHICH COULD BE COLLECTED BY THE UTILITY SYSTEMS.  THE 911 BOARD STRESSED THAT 911 CALLS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ANSWERED AND THE BOARD WANTS TO WORK WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES TO CONTINUE OPERATING AS THEY HAVE AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE.  A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD WAS MADE THAT IF THE SMALLER MUNICIPALITIES SHOW GOOD FAITH IN CONTRIBUTING FUNDS, THE BOARD SHOULD IN GOOD FAITH, GO OVER THE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO CUTS THAT CAN BE MADE TO HELP OFFSET THE FINANCIAL NEEDS.  REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD WAS ALSO REQUESTED BY THE SMALLER ENTITIES SHOULD THEY NOW HAVE TO START PAYING FOR THEIR DISPATCH SERVICES AS WELL AS JUSTIFICATION OF HOW THE SET AMOUNTS FOR EACH JURISDICTION WERE DETERMINED.  THE BOARD COULD NOT VOTE ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED AS THERE WAS NO QUORUM.  IT WAS DECIDED TO ADJOURN AND TO MEET AGAIN WITHIN THE WEEK.