East Texas

By MALENA OGLES
Staff Writer

Smith County Emergency Services District No. 2 board members will continue to explore their dispatching options at Thursday’s meeting.

According to a letter, sent last month by the Smith County Commissioners Court, as of the close of the current fiscal year, Smith County will no longer be able to fund dispatch services for the fire department jurisdictions within the county because of budgetary constraints.

Before the formation of taxing entity ESD No. 2, the payment of dispatch services came from the county’s general budget.

The Commissioners Court letter stated ESD No. 2 was being notified in time to adjust its next fiscal year’s budget accordingly.

Firefighters from the 11 volunteer fire departments that comprise ESD No. 2 formed a committee after receiving the letter from the Commissioners Court and planned to present the ESD No. 2 board with several alternatives to using the Smith County 911 Communications District.

Since the committee was formed, the 911 Communications District is proposing to turn over dispatch duties to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.

Representatives from the 11 volunteer fire departments said the bottom line when choosing a dispatch service will be cost.

“Now that we are an ESD we will have to go to bid,” said Smith County Volunteer Fireman’s Association President Tommy Brock.

While firefighters say they would like to go with the sheriff’s office if they take over dispatch, the cost will be the deciding factor.

Other items for the meeting include

Discussing items considered for purchase that are more than $2,000.

The Smith County ESD No. 2 board meets at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Smith County 911 Communications District building on Spur 248.