March 25, 2024 |
Photo – Saratoga Town Hall and Police Department – Bigfoot99 file photo
In Saratoga, officials want to hold a public workshop to decide if combining emergency dispatching services with the county is best for the town.
As reported by Bigfoot99, Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken has been researching the feasibility of combining all county emergency dispatching services under one roof.
During the March 19th Saratoga town council meeting, Police Chief Mike Morris said he met with Sheriff Bakken about the combined dispatch center. Chief Morris said a joint powers board, made up of representatives from both Saratoga and the sheriff’s department, appears to be the best way to manage a multi-agency emergency call center.
Chief Morris said he originally proposed the combined dispatch center to the sheriff. The police chief said it has become too costly and difficult to maintain and staff his own emergency call facility. Sheriff Bakken is only investigating if a single dispatch center is best for Saratoga, said Chief Morris.
Mayor Chuck Davis said he approves of a joint powers board controlling the proposed combined dispatch center. Mayor Davis said a joint powers board takes responsibility out of one person’s hands.
Chief Morris asked for a special workshop to be held next month to discuss the pros and cons of a combined dispatch center with the public. The police chief said the meeting will allow the council to come to the best conclusion.
Chief Morris, Mayor Davis, and Councilwoman Kathy Beck all said the town has not yet decided the fate of its in-house dispatching facility. Chief Morris said he wants the council to wait until after the public meeting to finalize a decision.
The Saratoga town council’s comments are at odds with what Sheriff Bakken has said himself.
During the March 13th Rawlins special workshop meeting, Bakken said a combined dispatch center between Saratoga and the sheriff’s department was all but finalized. The sheriff invited the Rawlins Police Department to join the combined emergency call facility.
Back at last Tuesday’s Saratoga town council meeting, Chief Morris said the town needs to do as much research as possible before making a decision. Mayor Davis said it is the council’s job to take the public’s comments into consideration.
Mayor Davis said he would like to hold a public workshop on the proposed combined dispatch center during the second or fourth week of April. A two-week advertising period is required before any public meeting.
