(KLZA)-- With work continuing on the new Richardson County Law Enforcement Center and Jail the topic of dispatching came up during the Richardson County Commissioners meeting Tuesday. 

Sheriff Don Pounds and Emergency Management Director Brian Dixon were in attendance along with Falls City Mayor Jerry Oliver, City Administrator Gary Jorn and Police Chief Duane Armbruster.

Sheriff Pounds said that communications is one of the things that needs to be finalized. A dispatch station needs to be built. The Sheriff said he feels combining the Richardson County Sheriff’s Department dispatching and Falls City Police Department dispatching would avoid duplication of services. Pounds said neither entity is very busy with dispatching and it would provide more experienced dispatching.

Brian Dixon, who is in charge of radio communications for Richardson County said in looking at the needs for the new law enforcement center, he feels the dispatching should be combined. Dixon said the way dispatching is set up now it creates additional expenses. He said whether the City or the County does the dispatching, paying for the service twice is kind of ridiculous. Commissioner Jim Davidson suggested the City and County meet to discuss the possibilities. Davidson said he feels one central dispatch would be a good idea and a money saving idea.  

Falls City Mayor Jerry Oliver said the City is willing to discuss services, but said it would have been nice to have more advance notice. 

Richardson County is responsible for providing 9-1-1 Service to Richardson County residents.  Currently and for the past number of years, the Falls City Police Department is the Public Service Answering Point for 9-1-1.  

Richardson County is paying Falls City half of the city’s annual costs for dispatching services.

A meeting is planned for Monday, January 11th in the Council Chambers at City Hall for the Commissioners to meet with representatives of the City and several City Council members to discuss the future of dispatching services.