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Police update: drug-takeback, blood drive, school traffic and county dispatch payment discussed
Summary
Police Chief Dana Flanders reported on public-safety outreach events, a traffic pilot at the school and raised a budget/timing issue with the county dispatch MOU and annual payment schedule.
Loudon Police Chief Dana Flanders updated the board on outreach programs, officer staffing and raised a scheduling issue with the Merrimack County dispatch MOU that could affect budget timing.
Flanders announced community events: a drug take-back day scheduled for April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the seventh annual Battle of the Badges blood drive on May 1. He said cruiser repairs are complete and reported an increase in calls for service year to date (3,223 calls so far this year compared with 2,313 at the same point in 2024) and increased vehicle contacts. He also said Officer Hart is scheduled to return from the academy on April 25, and the department recently hired a part-time administrative assistant.
On dispatch services, Flanders and board members discussed the Merrimack County Dispatcher services MOU. The county requested annual payment for the full year in April rather than the traditional biannual, services‑rendered billing. The sheriff indicated a willingness to remain on the prior schedule, but the county’s calendar-year billing differs from Loudon’s fiscal-year cycle (July 1). Selectmen discussed options including paying the full county invoice in April (overdrawing a line item this fiscal year) or keeping the current schedule and inviting the sheriff to a work session to explain the change. The annual dispatch cost cited in the meeting was $41,000 (annual; half due now would be about $20,500). The board asked for a work session with the sheriff for clarification.
Why it matters Dispatch billing timing affects the town’s cash flow and budgeting; prepaying could require drawing on current-year budget lines. The county’s billing calendar differs from the town’s fiscal year, raising a procedural question about how to handle future payments.
Next steps Chief Flanders will continue to coordinate on school-traffic pilots, and Selectmen agreed to invite Merrimack County representatives for a work session to explain billing and usage accounting so the board can decide whether to shift to an annual upfront payment.
