The Mathews County Board of Supervisors considered whether to invite Greg Hunter, the regional radio system manager for the Middle Peninsula/Northern Neck, to present a proposal for regionalizing dispatch and other emergency‑services functions but ultimately did not approve an invitation after extended debate and public comment on May 15.

Supervisor proponents said the presentation would be informational and could help the county learn whether state and federal grants could offset growing dispatch costs. One supervisor described potential grant opportunities that could fund a feasibility study for a coordinated regional approach.

Sheriff Edwards and multiple public‑safety leaders opposed the idea in the meeting and during public comment, arguing that regional dispatch would diminish local control, degrade local knowledge of the county geography, and risk slower emergency response. "The services that would be offered to our citizens are gonna decline in quality… Wherever that dispatch center sits is who gets a warranty treatment," Sheriff Edwards said. She emphasized that dispatch reports to the sheriff and said she would not support consolidation.

Fire and rescue leadership raised related concerns about response times and local knowledge of landmarks and rural addresses. The county’s volunteer rescue squad president and other public commenters described high turnover at some consolidated centers and urged the board to preserve the county’s existing local dispatch capability.

After extensive discussion, the board voted on a motion to invite the regional‑dispatch proponent; the roll call in the transcript recorded several nays and the motion did not pass.

Board members and public‑safety officials agreed on one concrete next step: finish the local radio‑system upgrades and related investments currently in progress before considering broader structural changes. Several board members also emphasized that any further steps would require consultation with the sheriff’s office and more detailed analysis.