The Sumner County meeting approved an interlocal agreement that would allow the director of the Emergency Communications District (ECD) to assume the duties of the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) director in addition to the ECD responsibilities.

Supporters told the board the arrangement has informally been in place for about two years and the executive committee had recommended formalizing it. An executive committee member said, “this has kind of been what’s been in place for the last two years,” and noted the committee approved modest pay adjustments to compensate for the added duties. The board was told the agreement is budgetary and costs would be divided among the county and participating cities.

George Phillips, the county counsel, returned a draft of the interlocal agreement to staff shortly before the meeting; the presenter told the board staff had not had time to complete a detailed review before distribution. The agreement includes a 90-day written-notice clause allowing any party to terminate the arrangement and return to separate directors.

Board members asked for clarification about separation of duties. A presenter emphasized the organizations would remain distinct operationally: “the director would oversee both agencies” but the district and the center would remain separate entities with segregation of reporting lines, and each director-level activity would be reported to the appropriate governing body.

The motion to approve the interlocal agreement was made, seconded, and approved by voice vote. The presenter said the proposal will next go to the county for approval and back to the ECC executive committee for final action. No formal roll-call vote tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.

The board noted the change will have a budgetary impact and said it will be shared among local jurisdictions. The agreement’s 90-day termination clause was highlighted as a measure to allow either side to revert if the arrangement proves untenable.

The board adjourned after confirming the next meeting date.