City may be on way to doing own dispatching
Saying they are “at an end point for negotiations,” the county intends to discontinue dispatch services to city police and the city’s utility department if a proposed contract isn’t approved.
A July 10 letter from County Attorney Arlan Wine reviewed by the Imperial City Council Monday resulted in no change in the city’s decision to pay $10,000 a year for dispatch service.
The county wants $35,000 a year, and gave the city 30 days to accept the fee.
That 30-day deadline comes Aug. 10.
During months of negotiating, the fee has been the major stumbling block in the contract’s approval by both parties.
Initially requiring $40,000 per year, the county backed down some with a five-year proposal to the city in June of $20,000 for year one, $30,000 for year two and $40,000 each year after.
After that was rejected by the council at their July 1 meeting, the county returned with the $35,000 annual offer.
The city has not changed its $10,000 annual fee offer. Up until these discussions, there had been no charge from the county for dispatching.
Commissioner Dennis Kunnemann was at Monday’s meeting, but he didn’t offer comment on the 0-4 vote the council took, rejecting the county’s latest contract.
He did say “that’s correct” when Mayor Dwight Coleman asked him if Wine’s letter reflected the commissioners’ position.
Council members and Coleman spoke only briefly before the vote.
Chad Yaw, who’s been working directly with Commissioner Jacci Brown on contract details, said his position hasn’t changed that the county’s asking too much for dispatch service.
“I still think it’s a lot of money,” Yaw said. “A lot more than we should be paying for dispatch.”
“I don’t disagree,” Coleman said.
The mayor added he also dislikes that the contract doesn’t assure the city has a place to go with the individuals arrested by city police.
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