The Town of Culver has agreed to sign a contract with Marshall County to provide dispatch services to the community.
It was decided earlier this year that Marshall County would share the cost burden with its local communities and Townships given the cost of new equipment. A board has been formed to oversee the centralized dispatch service and determine its usage and cost sharing methods.
Culver Town Attorney Jim Clevenger says this model updates prior arrangements.
“When the Town discontinue dispatch services, they paid the county $4-thousand or $5-thousand per year for continuing the dispatch operation,” says Clevenger. “For whatever reason, they just paid it, there wasn’t a written contract.”
Each town’s cost burden is different, but Culver found itself with a bill in 2017 of $10,112.
The central dispatch will take effect in January. Communities, such as Bremen, who do not participate will be required to provide their own dispatch services. The cost of developing your own dispatch services is estimated to cost around $400-thousand.
Marshall County will continue paying the majority of the cost of the central dispatch going forward. Clevenger says there are several reasons for the change.
“State law said you’re going to basically have centralized dispatch and you’re going to do away with all of the dispatch points,” says Clevenger. “I can only allow two in the county. So there were increased fees, increases in equipment, increased 911 costs, etc. etc. etc. The county was uncomfortable bearing all that expense especially when the service is being provided to all of the local units of government.”
The oversight board will determine the cost burden each year.
The Culver Town Council on Tuesday night agreed to sign the dispatch services agreement, unanimously.
