The question of Marshall County’s 911 Dispatch Center being a separate entity not under the duties of the Sheriff was thought up by the the Marshall County Commissioner’s on Monday.
Commissioner President, Kevin Overmyer asked Sheriff Matt Hassel, after serving 3 months in his position if they should resurrect the plan to share the cost of central dispatching with the other emergency services in the county.
Hassel said, “Yes, I feel it’s necessary especially with the 911 funding that we are coming up short on now.” He said, “This is a way to resolve that.” The sheriff noted that his department has taken on additional responsibilities for other departments.
Several years ago some of the entities were paying the county for the service provided. As some point the agreements lapsed and without written agreements the payments ceased. Late in 2015 the county created new agreements but they were presented to the various entities too late in the budget process for be funded in 2016.
The county will have a meeting of the stakeholders to first determine if the Dispatch Center should become its own entity or stay with the Sheriff’s Department. After that determination, a joint committee will be created with the other agencies that dispatching services are provided for to work towards written agreements.
Sheriff Hassel noted, “911 dispatching services are paid for through the state funding. It’s the additional dispatching of units after the original call, that’s now a dispatch center.”
The commissioners voted for Kevin Overmyer and Sheriff Hassel to serve on the Central Dispatch Committee with a couple members of the County Council.
