Union Aldermen entertained a sweeping emergency call proposal from Brian Taylor, Newton County’s Management Director for 911 at their December meeting last week.
Taylor said the County’s proposal would take over all fire, police and ambulance calls that Union’s police dispatchers currently field.
Newton County’s offer to Union is to take over all of the emergency call and dispatch operations from Union and run them through the County’s state-of-the art computer supported system.
Taylor detailed the ability of the equipment and staff to receive and handle calls on the system that is staffed 24-hour/ 365 days a year.
The cost for Union would be about $24,000 per year ($12 per person) and because of the investment the County would make, they would require a minimum 3-year contract.
Mayor Wayne Welch told the Aldermen that current estimates for the cost of operating Union’s dispatch system were about $100,000 per year.
Without voicing his endorsement of the plan, Welch said, “That’s a savings of $76,000 a year, or $228,000 over a 3-year period. If we did it for a year, and did not like it, we could buy out the contract and still save $25,000.”
Union currently dispatches emergency calls out of the police station with one full time and eight
part-time employees. Those jobs would be eliminated and the office would probably be open only when there was a policeman at the facility.
None of the Aldermen asked any questions or voiced an opinion to Taylor’s presentation, but Police Chief Billy Pat Walker, who followed Taylor to the podium, was adamant in his opinion.
“I am totally against this,” he said.
And, Walker said he had no problem with the County’s system and what they do. “We work with them everyday. They do an outstanding job.”
Walker said he had “safety concerns” if there was no staff on duty in station. He said it was not unusual for the staff to handle ‘walk-ins’, people who come to the station to report a problem.
“We need somebody here to help people,” he said.
Walker cited two or three examples of Union calls that were not handled properly by the County.
But, when Taylor responded that his staff had had to instruct Union’s people on how to deal with some situations, Walker obviously took offense, came of his chair, and told Taylor, “if we’re going to throw rocks, I can do that.”
Taylor answered, “I didn't come here to throw rocks, but to make this proposal and answer any questions.”
The outburst required Welch to call for order. “Whoa,” said Welch, “ya’ll need to keep this business.”
Walker later commented, “Saving the city money is important. But it is important that this station be open 24 hours a day.”
Taylor told the room that Union or Newton’s acceptance of the program would have other implications as well.
He said that currently Hickory and Decatur are being served by the County’s system at no charge.
He said that if either Union or Newton bought in to the plan, the Supervisors would probably make a proposal to Hickory and Decatur
He said that currently Decatur provides water, sewerage and other services at no cost to the County, and there would most likely be some swapping out to lessen their costs.
Welch said after the meeting, “I hate to see anyone’s job in jeopardy. But, when the county can do it for $2,000 a month and it is costing us $8,000 a month, I think we need to go that way.”
Welch may support it, but at least one Aldermen isn’t making any bones about his opposition.
Rex Germany said, “call me old fashion if you want, but I think people need somewhere they can run to if they need help.”
Germany said he wasn’t satisfied with Taylor’s response that the County would ‘swap’ services with Decatur.
“Their population is almost the same as ours (editor’s note: 1,758 in 2017 ). I want to see what kind of proposal the county would offer. I really think each one should pay the other at the same rate everybody else gets.”
Germany said there were other ways to get $76,000 a year in savings. “I think we could have a work section and take that much ‘fluff’ out of the budget. I know I voted for it as it stands now, but I believe we could cut out that much.”
He did not specifically name what it was he would cut or where the unneeded expenditures were being made.
Alderman Paul Lowery said he could not support the change because of the loss of jobs. He said he recognized the $6,000 a month in savings, but added, “I hate to see people lose a job and I’m leaning toward not making the change.”
Aldermen Harvey Hickman and Stanley Walker both said they were reserving judgement. “I’m just looking at it and weighing all of the options. I’ve got questions,” said Walker.
“People are used to coming to that office,” said Hickman, and I’m not too excited about people losing their jobs.” He said he didn’t think the projected savings would enter into his decision.
In other action, the aldermen:
• Got a clean bill of financial health from city auditor, Billy Price of Price and Company of Forest.
His report indicated Union’s 20178 general fund revenues of 2,305,655 were more than its expenditures of $1,764,357.
“You have got about $1.7 million in the bank now,” said Price, “but, so there is a little cushion there in case of an emergency, like a water well going out or something similar.”
