With continued cost increases and quality concerns mounting with current 911 services provided by Neosho County, Chanute City Manager, Jeff Cantrell, went before Allen County commissioners Tuesday to ask if they would consider allowing Chanute to join Allen Countys 911 service.
According to the Director of 911 Services in Allen County, Angela Murphy, regionalization and consolidation is nothing new. Murphy noted the county had previously looked into absorbing services for Woodson County two years ago and Yates Center as recently as last year.
Murphy said the deal with Woodson County fell apart after their previous sheriff left and a new administration came in. She went on to say the dynamics didnt work with Yates Center.
This would be no small task.
Commissioners questioned if they could absorb a city as large as Chanute, whose population hovers around 9,000.
Cantrell has held his position for four years and has been studying the growing rift between Chanute and the county during that time.
As a new guy coming in the first thing you do is listen. Then you try to determine if we really have an issue or if we are just dealing with unnecessary chatter. After going over everything, I really think we could resolve a lot of our issues by getting in with you guys, Cantrell said. We are very interested in your services. The level of dispatch that you guys provide is another tier up than what we receive.
Cantrell said the costs with their current provider have increased 3% to 5% every year, while the services provided have consistently gone downhill.
Everything we have seen has indicated that this would be a really good thing for Chanute, Cantrell said.
Neosho County has had its share of problems in recent weeks, with two county commissioners David Bideau and Jennifer Orr — resigning in the last month.
Losing the service would mean a loss of revenue for Neosho County.
This is not a get-rich scheme, I dont think this is going to be some million-dollar revenue opportunity. I think this is the neighborly thing to do, Murphy said. If it pays for the service with a little gravy on top, thats great. But in my mind, if you open that door then they will come and that is where I see the bigger benefit. Because in addition to receiving contract money, we would also be eligible, hopefully at the start of next year to receive their 911 funds as well.
Commissioner Bruce Symes said that he knows the county will have to spend some money to make this happen perhaps by expanding the current facilities, while adding additional positions but he would like to proceed with getting more information before making a decision.
Earlier in the meeting, Cantrell had said that he would like to look into a three- to five-year agreement with the county, or possibly a five to 10-year agreement. Symes said they would need at least a five to 10-year agreement for it to be feasible.
Cantrell said that would be possible. Symes also questioned whether Cantrell had the Chanute City Councils approval. Cantrell stated that as city manager he alone could make that decision and did not require councils approval. That said, the majority of council members are on board, he said.
All commissioners agreed they wanted Murphy to continue doing research before they made a decision.
STEVE STRICKLER of Strickler Holstein Farm, along with a couple of members of Rotary Club, presented a recycling program that was too good for commissioners to pass up.
