East Texas

By MALENA OGLES
Staff Writer

Smith County Emergency Services District No. 2 will continue to look at options for dispatching services for the county’s 11 volunteer fire departments after learning the dispatching contract will need to be put out for bid.

“Because of the amount it will have to go out to a request for proposal,” board member Teresa Campbell said after speaking with a representative from the Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts.

In the past month, the ESD No. 2 board looked into dispatching options other than the Smith County 911 Communications District dispatching, which it currently uses.

The board agreed to request a list of services provided by the communications district to the ESD No. 2 and the fire departments so they can compare the communication district’s price with the price of other dispatch providers.

Campbell said waiting to sign with a dispatch provider will give the board more time to publish a bid request and work the price into next year’s budget.

According to a letter sent by the Smith County 911 Communications District, ESD No. 2 has until Oct. 1 to reassign dispatching duties before receiving a notice of intent to terminate the agreement.

The board also approved the purchase of two bunker gear washers for Flint-Gresham and Whitehouse volunteer fire departments. The board originally planned to purchase 10 washers, but departments were unable to fit the machines in their fire stations. Board member Alan Adams said they can look into purchasing more washers after the departments are able to accommodate them.