Dispatch-services ordinance approved

FORT SMITH — The Sebastian County Quorum Court has approved an emergency ordinance adopting an interlocal agreement between the county and 10 cities, excluding Fort Smith, regarding radio dispatch services provided by the sheriff’s office to each municipal government.

The agreement states that the sheriff’s office has provided these cities with radio dispatch services using money from the county general fund and no reimbursement from the cities. The cities are Barling, Bonanza, Central City, Greenwood, Hackett, Hartford, Huntington, Lavaca, Mansfield and Midland.

The sheriff’s radio dispatch center is understaffed by two full-time dispatcher positions. In addition, the cities it serves have grown both in size and scope of operations, resulting in increased radio traffic and required services from the dispatch staff.

The agreement, approved by the Quorum Court on Tuesday, states that funding for the two full-time dispatcher positions would be provided by the 10 cities, with the payments from each city being determined on a percentage basis in relation to populations established by the 2010 census.

The total proposed contribution by the 10 cities for this purpose comes to $62,764, the agreement states. The 2019 cost for two full-time communications deputy positions was $78,454, according to the agreement.

However, 20% of the dispatchers’ salaries and benefits will be reimbursed by the Sebastian County 911 Board.

In a memo addressed to the Quorum Court, County Judge David Hudson wrote that the agreement with the 10 cities has been approved by their respective city councils. Billing to the cities will start April 1 for the 2020 calendar budget year based on the extended time period for renewal and adoption of the agreement.