(KLZA)-- Falls City Council members heard a presentation from Beatrice Police Chief Bruce Lang Monday night about the Southeast Communications 911 Center in Beatrice. 

Last week Richardson County Commissioners voted to make the switch to have the Regional 911 Dispatch Service serve all of Richardson County except Falls City which is currently the Public Service Answering Point for the City and all of Richardson County. 

Lang pointed out the  advantages the regional 911 center has in keeping up with the latest in technology and told the Council he is sure the City would realize a cost savings of at least $100-thousand, and likely more by joining the regional program. 

Richardson County will be paying $180-thousand annually to join the regional program.  Lang said that if Falls City were to join as well,  the combined cost for the City and County would be less than than $180-thousand annually for the two entities combined.

Currently the City's annual budget for dispatching is in the neighborhood of $250-thousand.

James Almond with the Nebraska Public Service Commission was also in attendance at the meeting and said that he believes that by the end of 2022, 911 dispatch centers will be required to have two 911 dispatchers on duty, 24 hours per day.

Council member Kaylie Ractliffe noted that she did not want the public to feel there are issues with local dispatching because of the ongoing conversations about possible changes.  She said the current system is not broken and does not want the public to get the impression that the dispatch center is not functioning properly.

Mayor Shawna  Bindle said she believes the dispatching center in Falls City is amazing but said the Council owes it to the taxpayers to look at the options noting this could be the way of the future.

Concerns were raised about the current dispatchers losing their jobs is a move were to be made.

City Administrator Gary Jorn noted that the City has funds in the budget for dispatching for the remainder of the fiscal year which ends in September.

The Council ask for a contract proposing the cost for the City to join, to help make a decision.  Lang said he could have that available by the end of this week.

James Almond will be meeting with City officials this week discussing some technical issues with 911 and changes that will occur with upcoming improvements to the 911 system.

The Council will likely discuss dispatching options again at their July 5th meeting.