City renews county dispatch agreement

By LAURA ROADY

Staff writer

BONNERS FERRY — With a split vote, Bonners Ferry City Council agreed to renew the dispatch agreement with Boundary County.

The new agreement requires Bonners Ferry to pay $27,707 to Boundary County.

The Boundary County Sheriff’s Department provides 24-hour dispatching service for the Sheriff’s Department, Bonners Ferry City Police, fire departments, electric, water, sewer, streets and other city departments.

“We use it a lot,” said Councilman Rick Alonzo. “If they weren’t dispatching for us, it would cost more than $27,000.”

Councilman Tom Mayo said dispatching for the city doesn’t lead to the need for extra staffing at dispatch.

said many of the other entities utilizing dispatch services don’t pay for the service in addition to the county fee.

“We are the only ones paying it,” said Councilwoman Connie Wells.

Council members also discussed that beginning their own dispatch service would cost more and contracting with an outside source would eliminate the local knowledge of the dispatchers for directions.

Mayo voted against the dispatch agreement and Wells, Alonzo, and Bob Blanford voted in favor of the agreement.

The dispatch agreement is for the current fiscal year which ends Sept. 30, 2014.