City wants more money for dispatching for county

Councilman Lonnie Anderson was absent from Monday night's regular meeting. Those voting in favor were Mayor Dennis Berry and council members Jack Rogers and Colleen Grant. Councilman Aaron Kircher cast the lone dissenting vote.

City officials want to raise fees the county pays for dispatch services, citing the increased volume of activity at the dispatch center, the majority of city population paying for costs vs. county population and fees that other counties/cities charge for their services.

Currently, the council pays $24,000 annually for the service. The city spends about $300,000 annually to provide 24-hour radio dispatch and enhance E-911 services for Red Willow County, including all law enforcement, fire and ambulance services. Currently the county pays about 8 percent of total costs.

About 30 percent of the population receiving services through the dispatch facility lives in the county, according to the background information provided to the council. If services are based on the population that uses it, that would be $90,000 in compensation.

Another option city staff offered is offsetting the increase against the costs of a new dispatcher, estimated at $45,000 annually

Kircher requested that the city work with county on fees. Economic times are tough, he said, with the county feeling the pinch and the city "sitting comfortably." He asked that the city work with the county "and give them a break."

He added that an additional dispatcher position has been an ongoing request for a few years now.

Mayor Dennis Berry, who made the original motion to direct staff to negotiate increased fees, seconded by Councilman Jack Rogers, responded that the city is already working with the county on this issue.

City Manager Kurt Fritsch said he wants to "make it as fair as possible" and to show flexibility. But increasing the fees would more equitably address the disparity of city residents currently paying the majority of costs.

Property owners in the city pay taxes to the city and county while county residents pay taxes to the county, Fritsch said. Basing fees on the percentage of population would ensure that those in the city would pay the same amount as those living outside the city, he said.

"It's an equity issue," Fritsch said.

Mayor Berry agreed, saying current fees are out of proportion compared to others.

A survey done by city staff of radio dispatch services similar to what McCook has revealed that all facilities charged jurisdiction fees for services based on either the percentage of population of jurisdictions, the percentage of services or a combination of both.