City, county dispatch agreement still in works

The city of Portales and Roosevelt County are trying to come to an agreement on how to jointly operate and fund a countywide emergency services dispatch center.

At the county commission meeting on Tuesday, commissioners discussed the two government’s differences.

The county wants a governing board that gives control over the dispatch center to the county as well as the city. The city wants the deputy police chief to control the dispatch center, but the deputy police chief will listen to recommendations from a board on which the county is represented.

The city currently manages the dispatch center that serves all residents in the county. Several months ago, the city asked the county to contribute more financially to the center. The county in return asked that together they create a “regional dispatch center” to be controlled by a governing board.

The Roosevelt County Commission on Tuesday discussed the progress of the on-going negotiations with the city of Portales to create a joint powers agreement.

County Manager Amber Hamilton said at the meeting that the “one big significant difference is the city does not want to move to a true governing board – they are proposing an oversight board.” Any other differences are “minor after that.”

“We are close, but I would say not necessarily much closer,” because it is hard to find any modifications the city has made since its previous draft, Hamilton said.

The city and the county have been exchanging drafts of the agreements in the form they would like to see.

“The big concern is the lack of a governing body versus an oversight board…,” Hamilton said.

Roosevelt County Sheriff Malin Parker said the city’s draft creates an oversight board similar to an advisory committee and “still leaves control solely to the city and the city’s police department.”

The negotiations between the city and the county on this point are “a long way apart,” Parker said.

Commissioner Rodney Savage said the county proposed an at-will employee who would serve at the pleasure of the governing board, paid by the city, to manage the center. The city has proposed instead two directors, who would report to the deputy police chief. The deputy police chief would accept recommendations from the governing board, but there would be no direct supervision by the board.

He said the city “indicated” it wants to move in this direction, “but they can’t do it at this time – it will take too much time.”

In an email sent to The News on Friday, Portales City Manager Sarah Austin sent a response to the discussion at the county meeting, which she watched.

“The city wishes to remain as it is now, by providing the same accredited coverage as we are currently providing to all residents in Roosevelt County regardless of residency location,” Austin wrote. “The city is responsible for covering 100% of the costs for dispatch at this time and that includes payroll, insurance, equipment costs that are not covered by the grant, and anything else that is needed to ensure the services continue. The County is offering less than 20% financial support and wanting control that far exceeds that 20% stake.”

In response, Hamilton, speaking for the county, wrote in an email: “This board alignment would result in one of five being a county official, which is 20 percent of the governing body. This also aligns with the approximate 20 percent funding the county offered for dispatch services. These financial computations correlate directly with the data provided by the city.”

Austin wrote: “The city also pays the insurance costs for the dispatch center and will not be willing to allow the county to have employee control. That must remain with the city and the city Human Relations department as well as personnel policy regulations.

“The City has been subsidizing for the county for decades and it has come to a point where the county needs to assist with financial support.”

Hamilton wrote: “The County has financially supported dispatch services for many years as it was housed at the Roosevelt County Law Enforcement Center until May/June of 2022. In addition, The County has historically paid $30,500 to the City for Fire/EMS services during and prior to my tenure. I cannot speak to alleged actions dating back 40 years as I’ve served in this role since September 2014.” 

“The ultimate goal here is to reach an agreement between city and county, where the county pays a fair share of the costs to have an accredited dispatch center that continues to support all of Roosevelt County,” Austin wrote.

Hamilton wrote: “The County and City have a long history of successful collaboration and I’m confident the governing bodies will find compromise and resolution. We will continue to provide Law enforcement, Detention, road maintenance, planning, facilities and the numerous other services provided by county personnel to all the County residents. We will also continue to seek opportunities for additional collaboration with the City on future projects.”

“The county’s draft proposal designates a governing board of five community leaders, one of which is a county official being the sheriff or his designee,” Hamilton wrote in a text to The News on Monday. “It follows the recommendations of the state in terms of a regional dispatch board. The city’s draft denotes the dispatch department would answer to the Deputy Police Chief, and the oversight board could make recommendations.”

The county’s draft joint powers agreement also proposes each group receiving services pay a percentage of the cost of operating the dispatch center.

Commissioner Tina Dixon said in the meeting that Elida’s proposed 1 percent share seems like a lot.

Parker asked, where do we go from here?

Dixon said it is time for another joint meeting between all the parties.

Since the agenda item was for information only, the commission did not vote on it.

The negotiations continued when on Monday, the county asked the city for another joint meeting and the city declined the offer, saying the county has its final negotiating offer.

“The city is not going to partake in another joint meeting concerning the Dispatch Service,” wrote Austin to the county. “There have been plenty of meetings and discussions regarding the matter and there continues to be a delay in reaching an amicable agreement. The city has provided their final negotiation offer and feel that at 20% support, that the offer was impartial and took in account the best interests of both parties.”