Mount Carmel aldermen formally oppose 911 dispatch fees

MOUNT CARMEL — At its Thursday meeting, the Mount Carmel Board of Mayor and Aldermen formally opposed municipal fees to fund the Emergency Communication District. The ECD dispatches 911 calls for public safety agencies across the county — except for the Rogersville Police Department, which has its own dispatch. It has been operating in a budget deficit, with most of its money going to growing personnel costs, and seeks more funding. Currently, the ECD is funded through an agreement with the county; it wants to increase this funding and establish funding from the municipalities. Town Manager Jim Stables, who represented Mount Carmel's board in workshops with the ECD, has advocated to not raise taxes for residents or pull from the town's funding. He said in Thursday's meeting that the dispatch fees could amount to over $110,000 a year from Mount Carmel, with possible growth over time. If the ECD's financial stress continues, the state will step in and likely cut dispatching services, ECD Executive Director Lynn Campbell told the Kingsport Times News in a previous interview. An ECD is required to answer 911 calls, but not to dispatch them; instead, it can transfer the call to the appropriate public safety agency, which is less efficient. Campbell said at previous workshops that if Hawkins County or a municipality does not pay the dispatch fees that the ECD sets, it will stop dispatching the affected agencies. Mount Carmel's resolution states that if the county doesn't pay and the ECD withholds service, Mount Carmel citizens will get a prorated credit and/or refund toward their annual county general tax levy. Further, citizens will get a prorated reduction to their emergency telephone service charge. Stables said that while the resolution doesn't have teeth, it is important to go on the record stating the board's opinion. Stables also said the it goes where it needs to: state legislators representing the area, and the Hawkins County mayor and commissioners. The resolution passed across the board, with Mayor John Gibson abstaining. Police staffing The board approved the first reading of a budget amendment to hire two patrol supervisors for the Mount Carmel Police Department. This would allow the department to be staffed 24 hours a day; currently, it relies on the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office to fill any gaps. The amendment allocates $234,008 for salaries, the one-time expense of vehicles and equipment, and more. Alderman Jim Gilliam opposed the amendment in favor of the alternative solution presented to the board: paying current officers overtime to increase their coverage. Gilliam supported this option's lower cost at $102,151. However, Alderman Philip Binstock and others said it would overburden officers and burn them out. "The way the department has developed so far is great. Let's see what else we can do," Binstock said. "I realize we're going to have to pay for it, and I'm happy to do so." Police Chief David Larson said overtime option would cost more in the long run, without providing the department the staffing it needs. Vice Mayor Jim Bare also opposed the amendment. He said that while he supports the police department, it wasn't the right time to move the money as the new budget season starts in five months. Gibson said that waiting to allocate this money would delay the hiring process, which he didn't want to do. With the timeframe afforded by the budget amendment, Larson said he could hire people before July. The amendment still needs to be finalized upon second reading. The board set a special meeting for Thursday, Jan. 29, at 5:30 p.m. to approve it as soon as possible and start the hiring process. Other updates The board, minus Gilliam, approved a resolution to allow board members to virtually participate in meetings, with limitations. The resolution follows a recent county resolution and state code. Board members can video call into two meetings a year if they have a family or medical emergency, are called into military service or if there is dangerous weather. The board member must notify the town recorder of their absence by 5 p.m. the day before a meeting. The majority of the board still must attend physically, with only two members being virtual at a time. The board accepted a $354,800 bid, the lowest of three, for new bathrooms at the town park. The town will pay for the project using a state grant from 2023. Since the bid is over-budget, Assistant Town Manager Tyler Williams said the town will seek additional state funding to cover the difference. Worst case, he said, the town would pay $14,800. Once construction begins, the project will be finished in 180 days.