Commission approves $205,953 transfer to cover dispatch costs and communications accreditation

Clay County commissioners on Thursday approved a transfer of $205,953 within the emergency communications fund to cover county dispatch costs, including overtime, seasonal personnel and an on-site CALEA assessment for communications accreditation.

Captain Amy Agderian of the Clay County Sheriff's Office explained the request and said she worked with Auditor Victor Hurlburt on the funding details. "As we were putting together the budget requests last year, it was unknown at that time what kind of revenues we were going to see in the emergency communications fund... it became clear pretty quickly that we needed to address some overtime and some seasonal personnel issues that we have in our dispatch center," Agderian said.

Agderian said the county moved its full-time dispatchers into the emergency communications fund but had not initially budgeted specific lines for overtime and seasonal staffing. Auditor Hurlburt prepared the figures and verified the fund contained the resources to cover the transfer.

Commissioner Wagner asked whether the transfer was a one-time measure or an ongoing need. Agderian confirmed it was a one-time transfer for the current year and that the county would budget the appropriate personnel lines in the next budget cycle.

Commissioner Lawson and others praised the auditor for recovering previously unpaid carrier funds to the 911 system; Lawson said that recovery helped the fund position. Sheriff's office staff also noted the transfer would fund the on-site CALEA assessment for communications accreditation, an expense not originally budgeted.

Commissioner Johnson moved to approve the transfer; a roll-call vote recorded six "yes" votes and the motion passed 6-0. Commissioners and staff said they expect the communications accreditation assessment to proceed and that future budget cycles will include regular personnel lines for dispatch under the emergency communications fund.