(KLZA)  The future of law enforcement dispatching was discussed for approximately 45 minutes during Tuesday’s meeting of the Richardson County Commissioners.

About three-and-a-half years ago a committee was set up to oversee the dispatching services when Richardson County agreed to have the Falls City Police Department handle the 9-1-1 dispatching.  At about this same time 9-1-1 calls for the Humboldt area and the rest of the western portion of the County were routed to go through Falls City instead of the Johnson County.

Following changes to Council members and Commissioners the committee has undergone changes but it was learned Tuesday the committee had not met for more than a year.  Commissioner Jim Davidson who was appointed to the Committee January 1st, asked City Administrator Gary Jorn why there had not been a quarterly meeting.  ( play audio :15 seconds ) 

Later Davidson asked if the committee meetings were following correct procedures for open meetings laws.  After discussing it, County Clerk Mary Eickoff explained since it is a committee, the same rules do not apply to advertising meetings and open meetings laws. ( play audio :17 seconds ) 

Davidson also was curious about an article he read saying the County would help pay for the costs of a new communications tower at the new city hall.  City Administrator Gary Jorn explained the City and County would have little cost for the change. ( play audio :37 seconds) 

Recently Jorn said he was informed the Richardson County Sheriff’s Department was going to begin doing their own dispatching again. ( play audio :27 seconds ) 

Jorn said that while he could not speak for the Council, he feels the County costs would actually be higher if the current arrangement is changed. ( play audio :39 seconds ) 

Sheriff Randy Houser was also present during the meeting and explained how the idea to make a change came about. ( play audio :18 seconds ) 

Sheriff Houser explains how the system currently works and why he felt a change should be made. ( play audio :32 seconds ) 

The Sheriff noted a number of other reasons he feels the change should be made.  ( play audio :48 seconds ) 

Commissioner Davidson said he only wants to do what is best for residents of the City and the county from both a financial and safety standpoint.  ( play audio :09 seconds ) 

Jorn reiterated to the Commissioners he feels a change would be more costly for Richardson County.  ( play audio :24 seconds ) 

Falls City Mayor Tim Hersh also attended the meeting.  It was decided that more meetings needed to be held and that the City needs to get a representative appointed to the existing 9-1-1 Committee which is to include the Sheriff, Falls City Police Chief John Caverzagie, a Commissioner, a City Council member from Falls City and Chuck Hunzeker of Humboldt as an at-large member of the committee.