River Heights council conditionally approves dispatch funding amendment to raise household fee

River Heights City Council voted to approve Amendment No. 1 to the interlocal dispatch-services agreement with Logan City, contingent on review by the River Heights city attorney. The amendment would increase the per-household dispatch assessment from $3.00 to $3.30 in the first year and then by roughly 3% per year for the following four years, to generate additional revenue for hiring and retaining 911 dispatchers and to cover ongoing equipment and software costs.

Logan City Police Chief Jeff Simmons and fire Chief Nate Thompson said the countywide dispatch center is understaffed, understaffed and that pay rates lag neighboring jurisdictions. Brian Lowe, the department27s technology lead, described recent upgrades to a statewide P25 digital radio system and cited both capital costs for the radio transition and rising call volumes: dispatches were about 39,000 in 2011 and roughly 58,000 in the past year. Council members pressed on prior rate history, regional participation and whether other jurisdictions had signed on.

Simmons said the current $3 assessment has not been adjusted in more than two decades (noting past changes in 1997 and 2002) and that neighboring counties start dispatch pay at higher rates; he told the council a 10% increase on the $3 assessment in year one (30¢ per household) plus subsequent annual adjustments was the proposal that would improve recruitment and retention.

Council members asked for a legal review of the contract language before recording final approval; the council voted to approve the amendment conditional on city-attorney approval. The amendment will next be returned to the city attorney for review and then to council if additional changes are recommended.

The motion and the conditional approval were recorded at the meeting; the draft interlocal amendment was placed on file for attorney review.