News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Jamestown Mayor Lyndon Baines said he believes communication issues are at the root of the city’s frustrations over funding the county’s 911 service.
At a budget committee meeting last week, several county commissioners expressed concern that the county was setting policy, through its budget decisions, without the city having input. Baines said Jamestown sees the benefit of the service and are trying to budget their share of funding.
“We’ve always agreed to pay,” Baines said. “We pay for them dispatching our city police and fire department and ambulances to the city. It’s a needed service, so it’s something we have to have.”
Baines said he appreciates Fentress County officials showing care with taxpayer money. He said he looks forward to sitting down in person with the county to work out the E-911 budget.
“Over the last couple of months all the meetings I’ve been to have mostly been on the telephone and teleconference,” Baines said. “We haven’t had a chance face-to-face and get this done. I think that’s one of the major things that has happened.”
Jamestown has already worked out what it is going to pay for the 911 service for the coming year. Baines said he has met with Fentress E-911 Director Michael Ledbetter to reach an agreement.
“We’ve figured out what we’re going to pay,” Baines said. “There’s no problem with the city paying, so we’ve already decided what we’re going to pay. Our workshop for the budget is Monday night, so we’re going to discuss it. The county is wrestling with this thing, but it’s a no-brainer, really. You have to help these guys and fund them.”
Baines said he would welcome a chance to sit down with county leaders to try to settle budgetary concerns. At a budget committee meeting Thursday night, July 2 was a date leaders hoped to be able to meet.
