Rutherford County committee approves $35,000 cap for unified dispatch study amid legal concerns

The Rutherford County Public Safety Committee on Oct. 27 authorized the mayor to execute a memorandum of understanding with the cities of Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne to fund a study of a unified 9-1-1/dispatch system, with the county’s share capped at $35,000. The committee approved the MOU by roll call after a lengthy discussion about legal authority and process.

The study is intended to assess whether consolidating or otherwise unifying call-taking and dispatch operations could reduce response times, improve coordination for jurisdictions with jagged city limits and produce cost efficiencies. EMA Director Chris Clark told the committee the study would be limited to data collection and analysis and would be paid from current budgeted funds.

Sheriff (unnamed) raised procedural and legal concerns, saying the Tennessee Emergency Communications District board is the only entity that "can consider consolidation" and warning that any consolidation discussion by board members outside an open meeting "would possibly result in a violation" and might need reporting to the comptroller. Director Lowery of the Rutherford County Emergency Communications District said the ECD attorney had cautioned board members about discussing consolidation outside of public meetings but that state ECD counsel had told municipal attorneys a limited study would not be prohibited. "Anybody can request the study," Lowery said; the decision that would follow any study rests with the 9-1-1 board, she said.

Some commissioners urged tabling the item to allow the 9-1-1 board to meet and for the county attorney to review the MOU. Others said a study was a prudent first step to gather unbiased information and would not itself change operations. After debate, commissioners moved to authorize the mayor to sign the MOU and to spend up to $35,000; the motion passed by roll call vote.

The committee’s vote authorizes only the study and does not change existing dispatch arrangements. Committee members said any policy or consolidation decisions would be brought to the 9-1-1 board and to the commission for further consideration.

Actions: The committee voted to allow the mayor to sign the MOU to fund a unified dispatch study with a county expenditure not to exceed $35,000; the motion passed on a roll-call vote. The study is described in the MOU as data collection of current policies, procedures and operations only; no consolidation action was authorized.