By John Ferak
Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska)
Copyright 2006 The Omaha World-Herald Company
GLENWOOD, Iowa — The City of Glenwood and Mills County are arguing over how much Glenwood should pay to support a shared emergency dispatch center — in the process trading bills that each refuses to pay.
The county contends that 40 percent of its emergency calls are generated by Glenwood. Under that scenario, Glenwood should contribute $160,000, Assistant Mills County Attorney Eric Hansen said.
However, Mills County is willing to sign a one-year contract with Glenwood seeking $125,000, he said.
Glenwood Mayor Dyle Downing argues that Glenwood should pay only a fixed rate of about $110,000 annually.
“We’ve wanted a five-year contract with no increased costs,” Downing said. “We’re trying to protect our city residents from being overtaxed.”
Despite the impasse, Mills County has continued to provide emergency services to the city since July, when the previous contract between the city and county expired.
“This is really a County Board decision. How long do they want to provide services to the city and not get any money for it?” Hansen asked. “I am still hopeful that we’ll be able to get something worked out. We have been close on a couple occasions with their attorney.”
The dispatch center currently has a $456,000 budget, and communities across the county contribute to its operation.
If a deal can’t be reached, the county must consider layoffs at the dispatch center, and Glenwood must think about starting its own call center, said Randy Thompson, director of the Mills County Communications Center.
Operating a city dispatch center would cost Glenwood residents $160,000 to $240,000 in salaries alone, Thompson said.
Downing said the city has agreed it’s too costly to operate its own communications center.
“Maybe it’s something to consider three to five years down the road,” he said. “Right now, it’s not an advantage to have two of the same thing.”
Since the impasse began, the county has mailed monthly bills of $10,416 to the city seeking payment for the dispatch of fire, police and ambulance services, Thompson said.
The amount was based on the $125,000 figure listed in the city’s current budget to fund the county dispatch center.
In turn, the county was charged an identical bill from the city for running a phone cable through city property, leasing city space for its communications tower and leasing space at the city Police Department for its unused backup communications center.
The county has no intention of paying the city bills, which are a first, Hansen said.
Downing said he expects an agreement to be worked out before drastic changes in emergency services must occur.
“Once we can settle this, it will be retroactive (to July),” Downing said. “We’re not trying to get out of paying our bill.”