By Sarah Lambert, BattleCreekEnquirer.com
Marshall, Mich. — The authority in charge of collecting 9-1-1 dispatch service fees from a reluctant Emmett Township agreed Tuesday to not immediately collect money owed by the township.

The Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority Governing Board agreed to propose that Emmett place all present and future payments in a county escrow account until the dispute is settled in court.

CCCDA’s decision, which was discussed in closed session during the meeting, essentially will allow Emmett to set money aside for payments without actually making them, said CCCDA chair Frank Peterson.

Payments still would have to be made on time, and the method won’t be put in place unless Emmett approves it at its Thursday night meeting, he said.

The township board has withheld payments, disputing the legitimacy of its $104,000 annual dispatch dues. It has called unfair the fact that 14 other Calhoun County governments pay nothing out of their general funds for 911 service.

Emmett refused to pay for several months, then made an emergency payment in August after the CCCDA threatened to scale back services to the township.

Currently, it is one month behind on its payments, said Jeff Troyer, CCCDA executive director.

“Did you get a check from them today?” Peterson asked Troyer, a smile indicating that he was half-joking.

“Nope,” Troyer said.

If Emmett accepts the option, the escrow account would be kept in place until the legal dispute over funding between Emmett and CCCDA is settled in Calhoun County Circuit Court, Peterson said.

The township has asked the court for an injunction that would prevent the dispatch authority from cutting services while a 911 fee is being negotiated.

But if Emmett does not accept the option for the escrow account, CCCDA will cut off some non-essential services, as it threatened to do in August, Peterson said.

It would continue to take 9-1-1 calls from Emmett residents and dispatcch Emmett public safety officers, but it would stop providing services through the Law Enforcement Information Network and mobile computers in patrol cars.

The LEIN system is used to send messages between police departments and to look up driver’s license information. The mobile computers provide a means of communication, other than radios, between officers and dispatchers.

Emmett’s decision will be brought before the circuit court in a hearing Monday afternoon.

Emmett Township Supervisor Gene Adkins said he did not want to comment on the dispute because of its legal nature. The township attorney could not be reached for comment Tuesday after the meeting.

About the Author
Sarah Lambert can be reached at 966-0589 or [email protected].

Posted with permission from BattleCreekEnquirer.com.