By HOLLY GASKILL
The Wells County Commissioners are the first to approve an interlocal agreement for a countywide Emergency Communications Department.
The Wells County Council and Bluffton Common Council will also need to approve the agreement. Both councils will meet Tuesday, Oct. 4 — the city council at 6 p.m. and the county council at 7 p.m.
If approved, the agreement will go into effect Jan. 1, 2023, and will continue for five years, contingent on either party upholding their roles and responsibilities.
All emergency calls have already transitioned to the Bluffton Police Department’s dispatch center rather than the Wells County Sheriff’s Office. This agreement creates a further plan for Bluffton and Wells County to work together toward the department’s funding and organization.
The interlocal agreement outlines plans for a public safety answering point advisory board, led by the 911 director and electing a chair, vice-chair and secretary.
The advisory board will consist of the city’s fire chief, the county sheriff, an emergency medical services representative, a member or appointed representative from Bluffton’s Board of Public Works and Safety, a member or representative from the Board of County Commissioners, a member or representative from the County Council, a member of Bluffton Common Council not on the Board of Works, one representative from the volunteer fire departments in the county, Bluffton’s chief of police, Bluffton’s mayor or appointed representative, and one representative each from Markle and Ossian.
On the board, there will be a committee for policy and procedure and a committee for the budget.
The board will be required to meet monthly for the next 12 months following the approval of the agreement. Meeting frequency will then be up to their discretion but is required at least quarterly.
holly@news-banner.com
