Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Syracuse Dispatch Center will not close at the end of this year as originally proposed.
According to Syracuse Town Manager Jeff Noffsinger, Council President Brian Woody said during Tuesday's town council meeting that some council members felt there wasn't enough time to make the transition from the town having a dispatch center to consolidating with the county dispatch by year's end.
The council also appreciated input from town residents.
In the Aug. 1 town budget, Noffsinger said a budget for the dispatch for 2007 will be included. Woody, Noffsinger said, indicated the town will pay its share of the dispatch, but the town's share is uncertain at this point because the town is still negotiating with Turkey Creek Township. "He just said we will fund our portion," said Noffsinger.
However, Noffsinger said everyone involved realizes as the state legislature makes changes, Syracuse dispatch will have to consolidate with the county at some point. House Bill 1343, he said, would require there be only one dispatch center per county, but it still must be approved by the legislature. If approved, Kosciusko County must have only one dispatch by July 1, 2009.
Though the Syracuse Dispatch Center will continue through next year, Noffsinger said town officials continue to research the transition to consolidate the Syracuse dispatch with the county. It just won't happen at this year's end.
Noffsinger also said it's important for the Syracuse community to know that 911 calls still go to the central dispatch in Warsaw and then the county dispatch calls the Syracuse dispatch.
"That's what the protocol is. There is a delay in response because of that. That's going to continue whether we have dispatch or not," Noffsinger said.
Woody also apologized to Noffsinger during the meeting for putting Noffsinger in a "difficult" position by having him deliver the news previously that the dispatch would be closed.
According to a previous story in the Times-Union, in June, a report released by Noffsinger outlined a plan to eliminate the dispatch department and animal control officer, saying town residents already have these services through the county.
According to the report, the town council instructed Noffsinger to eliminate the departments from the upcoming budget during a recent executive session. The position of the animal control officer was terminated June 30. The dispatch office was to remain open until Dec. 30.
