( KNZA )--Hiawatha Mayor Crosby Gernon has weighed in on the dispute with Brown County over what the city should pay the county for providing dispatch services.

Gernon addressed the issue during this week’s city commission meeting.  

Gernon says he personally believes it’s time Brown County join the majority of Kansas counties and fund all dispatch services.  He noted that Hiawatha residents account for just over 24 percent of county revenue, which this year will be more than $2.2 million.  In addition, he says the city provides its own law enforcement at a cost of $490,000 which in turn reduces law enforcement duties for the county in the city limits.  He says he feels those two numbers satisfy the city’s share of dispatch funding.  Gernon says all county residents benefit equally from the dispatch services, and it should be funded equally by all county residents.

The city and county entered into an interlocal agreement in 1990 calling for the city to pay the county $38,000 a year for providing dispatch services.  Brown County officials would like to see an incremental increase of the 1990 figure to $108,000 a year, which they say better reflects current costs associated with providing dispatch services.  County officials say the city agreed in 2011 to pay $55,000 a year.  However, Gernon says he never signed any contract amendment obligating the city to that amount.

At this point, he says the city and county need to work together and convene the dispatch advisory committee as soon as possible so a recommendation can be received by July 29th in time for determination and publication of a 2014 budget.