Ohio: New Dispatching Service Totals Decrease for Most
Steven F Huszai, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio)
WOOSTER — Renewal contracts for dispatching services were sent out last week to villages, townships and fire district boards currently receiving those services from the Justice Center Communications Center.
The contracts sent out by the Wayne County commissioners came after an Oct. 31 meeting between Scott Wiggam and police and fire chiefs in the ongoing discussions centered around dispatching services.
Meetings between the commissioners and smaller safety service agencies focused on costs, equipment and safety concerns.
After the Oct. 15 meeting between the groups, the commissioners revised the fees charged for dispatching services downward and represented the amounts distributed with the contracts.
The new totals for villages were decreased, except for three entities providing fire/EMS services — East Union Township, South Central district and Paint Township, which remained the same as originally quoted in August.
The commissioners have maintained they are committed to charging for actual services used by each entity, while the chiefs and some elected officials have stated they do not believe the fees reflect usage. Recently, the chiefs searched for alternative funding and suggested using casino revenue that has started to flow into the county’s general fund.
Contracts are for a two-year period.
In Smithville, Mayor Allen Snyder and council members have expressed concern with rates after the two years are up, along with several other police chiefs.
At Smithville’s Nov. 12 council meeting, the mayor and council decided to wait until they received a contract from Orrville’s dispatch center before making a decision.
To date, Barb Chapin of the commissioners’ office said New Pittsburg Fire Department is the only agency to return a signed contract. Each contract will require final approval by resolution.
The following are the latest amounts quoted in contracts sent out to the following safety service agencies for law enforcement and fire/EMS:
— Smithville, $6,517
— Creston, $5,481
— West Salem $4,149
— Shreve, $3,799
— Apple Creek, $2,219
— Mount Eaton, $2,047
— Marshallville, $1,010
— Medway, $100
— Wooster Township Fire, $3,327
— Canaan Township, $2,023
— Central Fire District, $2,459
— Town and Country Fire, $2,459
— Clinton Township, $1,326
— New Pittsburg, $1,691
— East Union Township, $2,844
— South Central Fire, $1,691
— Paint Township, $1,691