Metcalfe 911 Dispatch Update
The Metcalfe 7th and 8th grade Gifted and Talented students posed for a photo with the Magistrates, County Attorney, and Judge/Executive. Photo | PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Metcalfe County Fiscal Court met on Thursday, January 23rd, with a quorum as all magistrates were present. The meeting was also attended by the Metcalfe 7th and 8th grade gifted and talented class.
Judge/Executive Larry Wilson welcomed the students and asked the members of the fiscal court to introduce themselves.
The agenda was adopted and the minutes from the January 9, 2025, regular meeting were approved after motions were made by Magistrates Daniel Bragg and Kevin Crain.
Judge Wilson explained to the students, “We just voted on the minutes from the last meeting. This is a detailed report of everything that was said and done last meeting, and it will be a permanent record and will be filed with the county court clerk.”
Wilson moved on, “Next would be discussion on the Edmonton Metcalfe 911, Dispatch Center. I talked to Dawn (Devore) at the city yesterday, they’re willing to take on the dispatchers as employees. What we’re working on, they will pay half the salaries, and we will pay half, and that will include their benefits.
“We will have a local agreement drawn up. Once we get that drawn up, it will come before the court for your all’s approval. I just more so wanted your blessing to go on with this.”
Bragg asked, “So right now, where the local, they’re paid by the local 911 board, right, which is funded by us. Is that funded? We’re already paying into the board to pay their salaries. How will that be?”
“We are going to have to pay more to get their benefits covered. I’m thinking somewhere around 25,000 a year,” replied Wilson adding, “Beth (Wilson) retired after all those years, about 30 years, she leaves with no benefits, and they’ve had problems keeping people, and we want the best people. So, we’ve got to start doing this.”
Bragg stated, “I guess my real question was, are we going to lower the amount we’re paying to the 911, board right now, because we have that written in our bylaws, how much we’re paying them every quarter? Will we lower that amount?”
“Yes, so we’re still going to do the same thing. We’re still going to do the same thing. They’re going to raise the salary was not up to par, the salary will be raised and the benefits, basically, what the money we’re going to have to contribute will be the difference in what they’re already getting,” answered Wilson.
A motion was not needed at this point, but once the interlocal agreement between the City of Edmonton and Metcalfe County Fiscal Court is created, a motion to accept will be needed.
The budget transfers and inter-fund transfers were approved.
There was one notable item on the claims report. Treasurer Page Edwards noted that the payment of $56,589.58 that was made to the Barren River District Health was the 3rd and last catch-up payment. The next bills should be back to the normal amount.
There were no other items so the meeting adjourned.
The next regular meeting will be Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the fiscal courtroom.
