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By MALENA OGLES
Staff Writer

The Smith County Emergency Services District No. 2 board discussed its dispatch options Thursday, after receiving a letter from the Smith County Commissioners Court stating it will not pay for 911 dispatch services.

According to the letter, signed by every Commissioners Court member, as of the close of the current fiscal year, Smith County will no longer be able to fund dispatch services for the various jurisdictions within the county because of budgetary constraints.

Since receiving the letter, the volunteer fire departments have formed a committee composed of six chiefs, firefighters and a dispatcher that are writing a list of needs the fire departments have from a dispatch service. The committee plans to present the list to the ESD No. 2 board during the June meeting.

“For all of these years, we’ve struggled to get by with a little bit of money. Now all of a sudden we have this ESD and everyone has their hands out. We’re wanting to use this money to get things where they aught to be,” Smith County Volunteer Fireman’s Association president Tommy Brock said before the meeting. “We’re back to struggling to get the basic things we need.”

In addition to their list of needs, Brock said they plan to present several alternatives to using the Smith County 911 Communications District.

“911’s not the only game in town,” Brock said. “Since it will cost over $50,000 for dispatch services, it will have to go out for a bid.”

Smith County 911 Communications Director William Morales told the board that dispatching costs for the ESD No. 2 fire departments is at around $74,600 per year, and the costs to ESD No. 1 are at $16,500.

“I will submit proposals to all of you,” Morales told the fire departments during the meeting.

Morales said that even though they will continue to provide 911 services, the fire departments have no obligation to continue using them for dispatch service.

The Smith County 911 Communication District has two functions. The first is the traditional 911 call, which transfers the caller to the appropriate answering point, like fire, police or ambulance services.

Once the 911 call is transferred to the appropriate public service answering point (psap) the dispatchers take over and provide the appropriate information to the firefighter or police officer.

Morales said before the meeting that the county stopped paying for many of the cities’ dispatch two years ago, but that happened over a period of three years.

He added that if the volunteer fire departments were to consider having their own dispatch, they could be looking at enormous startup costs — from purchasing equipment to staffing the dispatchers.

The reason for the increase in dispatching cost is because the Smith County 911 Communica-tions District will have to increase its number of dispatchers from three to six. Morales said the increase was part of a recommendation to help lower the city’s insurance ratings.

“We’re talking about doubling a budget overnight. I have to deal with so many other agencies. To add that many dispatchers to get that rating overnight is not a good idea,” Morales said.

The ESD No. 2 board voted to table any action on 911 dispatching until they receive the proposals from the volunteer fire departments.

The board also heard from Gladewater Volunteer Fire Department Chief Snuffy Smith, who asked the board to consider entering an interlocal agreement with his fire department that helps with mutual aid in Smith County.

Smith asked for the board to contribute at least $15,000 a year for the interlocal agreement, the same amount agreed on with other fire departments bordering Smith County that provide mutual aid.

“The people and the city of Gladewater pay for that equipment, and that fuel,” Smith said.

Smith said his department will continue to respond to calls for help until they are told they are not permitted to respond outside the city limits.

Currently, Gladewater receives approximately $1,500 from the Friendship community to help with the cost of fire service. While Smith said they are grateful, that money is not enough to cover the cost of fuel.

While Smith was unable to tell the board exactly how many times per year his department helps in calls to Smith County, he said he could find out.

“I’m trying to get where it’s economical for me to still be a good neighbor,” Smith said. “My attitude is if we can help somebody we will, but we’re under limitations. My taxpayers are only going to let me tax them so much.”

The board voted to table the issue until some more study is done into the number of runs Gladewater has made into Smith County over the last three years. The board asked Smith to go over the last three years call and come back with the total number of times they came to help in Smith County.

Other items approved on Thursday included:

Payment of bills and payroll, transfers of funds, budget transfers and amendments.

Request for tax abatement by Sealtite Building Fasteners.

Adoption of the financial control, operational and budgetary policies and procedures.

Change of the Smith County Volunteer Fireman’s Association budget returning $117,000 to ESD No.2.

Revision to the ESD No. 2 travel policy.

Pre-approved $60,000 in emergency funds to replace bunker gear.