(KLZA)-- Following months of debate, Richardson County Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to terminate an interlocal agreement with the City of Beatrice to provide dispatch services for the Richardson County Sheriff's Department.

Representatives of Southeast Communications 911 in Beatrice and the Nebraska Public Service Commission attended the Wednesday Board meeting to review current dispatching services provided by Southeast Communications 911, Beatrice and what would be needed to have the dispatch service returned to the County, and or the City of Falls City.

Falls City, City Administrator Anthony Nussbaum and Police Chief Jamie Baker also attended the meeting to answer questions regarding the return of the dispatching service to the City of Falls City.

Now in the final year of a three-year agreement for Southeast Communications 911, to provide dispatching services, an initial proposal for a renewal fee was communicated to Richardson County with a cost of $360,000 for the next year. That proposal represented an increase of approximately $170 thousand.

In December, Interim Beatrice Police Chief Jay Murphy met with the Richardson County Board and said he felt the original proposal was too much and offered a two-year contract extension at a cost of $200 thousand the first year with a three-percent increase in price for the second year.

County Board members said they felt Richardson County has paid for some services that were not provided during the current three year contract, thus overpaying. The current contract will expire July 31, 2024. The County is expected to continue to work with Falls City on a dispatch agreement to begin August 1.