County discusses funding for 911 dispatch center

Nevada Daily Mail

With the construction of the Vernon County Ambulance District building and Vernon County Jail in the last 15 years, and the new police and fire department facilities opening in recent weeks, the Vernon County Commission discussed the final, missing piece of the emergency services puzzle Wednesday with representatives from local emergency agencies.

Members of VCAD, the police and fire departments and city and county officials considered ways they might better fund and run the entity that connects each of those agencies as well as other rural departments -- the Western Missouri 911 Dispatch Center.

"It's a piece that we have to have," VCAD director James McKenzie said.

Currently housed in the Vernon County Jail and overseen by a board of members from the local emergency agencies, city and county, city manager and chairman of the board J.D. Kehrman said the center is politically unstable and understaffed, with employees underpaid compared to other dispatch centers.

"Everyone's been dealing with this 911 issue for years," Kehrman said, saying they want it centralized to be more efficient and beneficial to rural areas, but that it needs to be rearranged in order for it to sustain itself.

Funded by the county, city and VCAD since combining three separate dispatching operations into one location, Western Missouri still finds itself in need of another means of income as it functions under a very tight budget on an annual basis. Kehrman said with the current needs, the three financial supporters might soon be paying just as much as it costs to fund their own dispatch center.

"I think we all probably saw this coming," Kehrman said, saying they now need to find another way to support the center.

The agencies represented in the discussion decided they would pursue putting a half-cent sales tax on the ballot for the August election, the new sales tax being used to support the dispatch center, allowing the money currently being provided by the county and city to be used for other needs in the community.

Though using a property tax to fund the center was mentioned, Kehrman pointed out that would only charge county residents and not those traveling through the county who also benefit from local emergency responders.

With the change in financial support, the Western Missouri board of directors would also change, being made up of about seven county residents, making the center independent of the city and emergency agencies completely.

Kehrman said their ultimate goal is a "stand-alone, independent agency run by the tax-payers and the voters," saying they also plan to begin setting aside funding in order to eventually construct their own building separate from the jail.

Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher said the jail was constructed so it could house a dispatch center, but if the growth that is needed occurs, the jail could not provide the space for it. Having the dispatchers and jail in one location also results in some access issues and can serve as a potential security risk.

"An ideal dispatch center needs to be in its own building," Mosher said.

Presiding Commissioner Joe Hardin said the largest hurdle they face is educating the public on the needs of the dispatch center before the August election, saying he believes a sales tax funded system is the best option.

But despite having slightly more than two months for different entities to educate the community, Kehrman said this might be the time to go for it as all the agencies work together with the same goal of improving the dispatch center's services.

"No one's ever going to feel good about taxes," Kehrman said, but added it is a need that will benefit the entire county by supporting law enforcement agencies and emergency services. "All of these agencies matter and touch lives."

The funding will go towards financing the dispatch center and its dispatchers. Currently, two dispatchers answer calls from residents and also dispatch the law enforcement agencies and fire department. They hope to add medical emergencies to that list as well with the increase in funding, which would pay for the salary of needed dispatchers to handle the calls, which have increased in recent years.

"Can we afford to keep kicking the can down the road?" McKenzie asked, adding that now is the time to act with the group of willing participants they have.

Before putting the item on the ballot, Kehrman will approach the city council next week concerning allocating funds to pay part of the approximately $22,000 needed for the election. The commission and VCAD board will also consider paying equal parts, with the three entities reconvening on May 26, the deadline for the ballot.

"I believe we can get it done," Kehrman said. "I'm confident."