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County Votes to Take Over Dispatch Services

By Greg Bebermeyer

07/25/2017

Brown County Courthouse

(KNZA)--The Brown County Commission has voted for the county to take over all emergency dispatch services in the county, effective January 1st, 2018, subject to the approval of the cities of Horton and Hiawatha along with the county Sheriff’s Department.

Commission Chairman Steve Roberts made the recommendation at Commission Monday’s meeting. “I just thought it was the thing to do,” Roberts told MSC News. “We've been dispatching for the City of Hiawatha for a long, long time. I felt like it was unfair to the City of Horton. We have a good relationship with all of these law enforcement entities, and I think for the betterment of Brown County, it's time that we all get on the same page.”

Roberts said the recommendation followed discussions with Hiawatha and Horton city officials along with Sheriff John Merchant.

The city of Horton currently operates a 24-hour dispatch center, while the city of Hiawatha contracts with the county to provide the service.

Roberts says he feels the county is in better position financially to provide the service than the two cities.

Hiawatha is currently paying the county more than $4,100 a month to provide dispatching services for the city and the county had recently approached the city about negotiating a new contract.

With the change, the city would no longer have to pay the county for providing dispatching services.

Roberts says Merchant has indicated the sheriff’s department is willing to take on the additional dispatch duties.

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