Allen Countys 911 dispatch center may have its reach expanded.
Director Angie Murphy told commissioners Tuesday morning she had been approached by a city whose officials were eager to discuss having Allen County handle its emergency calls. That prompted Murphy to appraise commissioners of the possibility of meeting that citys request, and also doing similarly for others whose budgets are strapped by trying to meet the ever-expanding technological menu.
Commission Chairman Tom Williams picked up the baton.
911 service is expensive and it is hard for small cities (and counties) to squeak by, Williams observed. It would be neighborly for us to provide service where we can and where its a good fit economically.
The caveat, he was quick to note, was being neighborly would work only if a city or county coming on board didnt spend more nor did Allen County.
Planning for whatever may come of the proposal is in its infancy, Murphy allowed.
The first step, Williams said, is to let a community decide.
Commissioner Jerry Daniels reiterated small counties Woodson comes to mind are strapped by the cost of staying apace of technological advances. Im open to helping but it has to be the right proposal, one that does not put Allen at disadvantage, financially or in maintaining full response on the quick for local residents.
COMMISSIONERS made a couple of minor adjustments to the 2019 budget discussed a week ago and came away with an overall ad valorem tax levy of 1.01 mills less than this years.
Based on assessed valuation of $145,375,214, the levy of 63 mills will raise $9.16 million in tax dollars, to pay nearly 43 percent of the budgets anticipated expenditures of $21.33 million.
The general fund is posted at $9.93 million for 2019, with much of the difference from this years general fund estimated expenditures of $6.58 million attributed to cash carried forward, ongoing result of the glut of tax money generated by Enbridges assessed valuation of $35 million. Money populating budgets is categorized as an expenditure to give authority to spend any or all.
Budget particulars will be in a public notice in Thursdays Register. A public hearing on the budget will be at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 14.
CITY Administrator Cole Herder has yet to determine specifically what extension of utilities to an industrial tract a short distance northeast of Humboldt will cost. Commissioners remain committed to providing up to $335,000 to make the 24-acre tract available for development, immediately as site for a Murphy Tractor repair and maintenance shop.
