Dispatch fees still a thorny issue

Much of Monday night’s Odessa Town Council meeting was spent in continuing consideration of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s proposal to raise the fees the town pays for dispatch services.

Mayor Doug Plinski distributed copies of a revised proposal from Sheriff Wade Magers, along with a counter-proposal that he had prepared.

It was unclear Monday whether the “5-5-5” plan presented by the sheriff at the November 14 meeting was incomplete, had not been noted, or had been modified. The revised proposal offered a program costing $5,000 for 2012, payable in full in January, with incremental increases of $500 per year for 5 years. In addition, the sheriff is proposing an additional annual increase of 5% thereafter.

Plinski presented council members with a counteroffer that proposes using the annual CPI (Consumer Price Index) as the base for annual increases, as well as modifying some of the contract language. He said that he and councilman Lynn Schmidt and possibly Town Marshal Mike Wren will be meeting Friday, December 2 with the mayors of Wilbur and Reardan to discuss the county’s plan.

Schmidt reported that he had calculated what the annual cost would be currently if the CPI had been applied, and the annual cost would be approximately $3,500. Schmidt also commented that “in 10 years, none of us will be around this table,” then went on to explain that whatever action was taken or contract signed, it needed to be done in such a way that future city leaders would be able to understand what decisions were made and why.

Wren requested that the contract include mandatory sharing of information such as protection orders, warrants or other court decisions that pertain to residents of Odessa. That information currently goes to the dispatch center, where it is entered into a database and then filed. Currently, Odessa’s police department has to request information, and Wren is asking that it be communicated automatically.

After further discussion, which covered several topics, including whether residents of the three self-policed communities were being charged for 9-1-1 availability which is provided free for other Lincoln County residents, and whether all 9-1-1 services would in future be centralized even further, the council voted to give Plinski the authority to negotiate an agreement with the mayors at Friday’s meeting.

Fire Department

Fire Chief Don Strebeck reported that there had been a fire in town on November 17, when disposal of barbecue coals ignited dry weeds behind a residence on Fifth Avenue. Strebeck said that the fire was easily contained and that damage was minimal.

Police report

Wren reported that “we’ve had a real quiet two weeks,” going on to say that the only event over the weekend was a dog bite that required a doctor’s attention.

Wren also reported that the person who used a bad check to pay for a vehicle at the fire department’s fundraising auction has been charged. A summons has been issued, and if the person does not show up at the appointed time, a warrant will be issued for his arrest.

When asked if he wanted the vehicle back, Strebeck replied, “Not if it’s in pieces.”

Council member reports

Councilwoman Kim Ramm, in the last month of her term, will attend a Quadco (Quad County Regional Transportation Plan) meeting this week, along with councilman-elect Frank White.

Councilwoman Lois Hubbard said that the new billing system for utilities should be up and running by March, 2012.

Mayor’s report

Plinski told the council that the Lincoln County Economic Development Council (EDC) will hold a “smart phone” class in January to bring area businesses up to speed on the opportunities offered by new technology.

Plinski will also be attending an Association of Washington Cities Mayors Exchange meeting during next week’s legislative session in Olympia, and that he hopes to attend the Association of Northeast Washington Mayors in December 9 in Airway Heights.