Baxter To Continue Utilizing County Dispatch

The City of Baxter will not break from Putnam County Sheriff’s Department dispatch services.

Police Chief Danny Holmes said the departments have a good relationship.

“We work very well with Sheriff Eddie Farris and his deputies. I know there is a lot of traffic on the radio at this time, but the Sheriff is trying to fix that,” Holmes said. “And you know, we also want to hear what the Sheriff’s Department is doing and they want to hear what we are doing because we back each other up.”

The City of Baxter will continue to work with Putnam County dispatch services.

Baxter Mayor John Martin said the Board of Aldermen and Mayor discussed the option following a county commission meeting.

“It came out in the paper that three municipalities are considering going out on their own as far as dispatch, especially the police,” Martin said. “Well, that is not the way we want to do it.”

Algood, Monterey, and Baxter considered managing dispatch within the city.

“You know, I think it was brought up in the commission meeting. ‘Is Baxter, Monterey, and Algood are paying for the dispatch,” Martin said. “Well, guess what, we are. When I wrote a check for my county taxes, I paid the dispatch.'”

Martin said conducting specialized dispatch may work for other cities, but not Baxter.

“Everyone in the City of Baxter is paying for dispatch, so that is our view,” Martin said. “You know I think Algood kind of started that they would probably like to go separate from the 911 or whatever. Algood has deep pockets, we don’t.”

Martin said Sheriff Eddie Farris supported Baxter’s decision to stay with the countywide dispatch service.