A panel of mayors, judges, commissioners, councilmen and magistrates from Fulton and Hickman Counties met to discuss a common interest for centralized dispatch, Oct. 13, at the Pontotoc Community Center in Fulton.
In attendance representing the city of Fulton were, Mayor Dan Voegeli, City Manager Kenney Etherton, and commissioners, David Prater, Martha Vowell, and Jeff Vaughn.
Representing the city of Hickman were Mayor Charles Murphy, City Manager Larry Myatt, and commissioners, David Lattus and Barbara Yandel.
Clinton city officials who attended were, Mayor Fred Cox, councilmen, Phylis Campbell, Mickey Beck, Yvette Thomas, and Howard Dillard.
Fulton County officials in attendance were, Judge/ Executive David Gallagher, and magistrates, James Black, Henry Callison, George Jones, and Billy Nelms. Representing Hickman County were, Judge/Executive Greg Pruitt, and magistrates, Tommy Roberts, Harold Jackson, and Ricky Deweese. The idea for centralized dispatch first surfaced nearly two years ago.
However, plans to follow through with what many believe would save tax payer dollars while providing a better quality of emergency service to residents, seemed to slip through the cracks.
“Logistically it can be done. There is a need for it, however, cost is a part of it. We want to operate as efficiently as we can, and I think we can meet the needs. Everyone said we could do this, but the time was wrong. Now the time is right. We need to offer the citizens the best service for their money,” Fulton County Judge/Executive David Gallagher said.
Currently, the cities of Fulton and Hickman have separate dispatch centers, while the community of Cayce is split between the two.
The meeting was the first held to discuss centralized dispatch involving both Hickman and Fulton Counties.
“There is potential here to do great things, and a need for all units of government to work together. As we know Fulton is too small to have enough political force. We want to carry a bigger stick when we go to Frankfort to talk to people,” Fulton Mayor Dan Voegeli said in opening.
Fulton City Manager Kenney Etherton, who is a supporter of centralized dispatch, said it is just a matter of starting it back up.
It is uncertain whether or not the Hickman-Fulton Counties Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (R.E.C.C.) will participate. However, Judge Gallagher expressed his desire to get things right between those directly involved, then later expand.
According to Fulton County Magistrate Billy Nelms, the greatest concern in the beginning was who would have control if centralized dispatch was implemented.
“It did not work the first time because we could not decide who would have control and where the location would be. It was not about whether we can do it, it was about who controlled it, and where it would be,” Nelms said.
Hickman City Commissioner Babara Yandel, said a study concluded Hickman would be the best location for the centralized dispatch. The independent study was based on geography and radius range to capture signal for the radios.
Mayor Voegeli made it clear he did not advocate the location being in Fulton and the biggest issue he saw, was whether or not Hickman County would take part in the centralized dispatch.
“First time we went down this road, we had 20 plus people discussing the issue. It is hard to get people to agree. Fulton, Hickman, and Clinton need to have a public hearing to see what people want, and come back with a smaller group to hash this out,” Hickman City Manager Larry Myatt said.
Concerns of job loss resulting from centralized dispatch were also addressed. According to the panel, since a larger area would be covered, the same amount of dispatchers would be needed .
Ultimately it is the governing body’s decision as to whether centralized dispatch will be implemented.
“We have to do this right the first time. There are no second chances. To do it right you are looking at a process of about one year,” according to Fulton City Manager Kenney Etherton.
Other concerns affecting the cost to combine emergency services, came from Fulton Police Chief, Terry Powell, regarding the upgrade to narrow band radios, mandatory by the federal government by 2013.
Hickman Commissioners absent were Charles Choate and Philip Williams, Hickman County councilmen absent were Gilbert Fortner and Jeff Morrow. Fulton Commissioner Mike Farmer was absent, due to illness.
Prior to the discussion of centralized dispatch, Dennis Kosta, member of Project Recycle at the University of Tennessee at Martin gave a presentation on the advantages, and cost for the counties to start a recycling program.
