Lucas County Sheriff cannot charge for dispatch

Sheriff Jim Telb had said the county 911 levy covered infrastructure only. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY Enlarge | Photo Reprints

The Lucas County Sheriff's Department cannot charge for emergency dispatching and call-taking services to Springfield and Monclova townships without making changes to the county's 911 plan, according to a decision by the Ohio attorney general.

The decision, released Thursday, was heralded as good news in both townships.

Monclova Trustee Chuck Hoecherl said the township will seek to remove the dispatch and call-taking charges built into its contract with the sheriff's office.

"I can't imagine the county would challenge that," he said, adding that the attorney general's decision could prove to be a much-needed money saver.

"I'm thrilled, because we don't have a lot of money," longtime Springfield Trustee Marylin Yoder said.

The sheriff and both townships have been at odds since June, 2009, when Lucas County commissioners announced they soon would bill townships thousands for previously free dispatch and road-patrol services in order to balance the county's budget.

Those townships that lacked their own police force balked at the sheriff's bill.

Jerusalem Township ultimately ended up going without patrols, after voters there overwhelmingly rejected a 3.5-mill levy that would have raised enough money for service for a year.

In Monclova, there were six months worth of heated debates before trustees agreed to pay $469,719.90 to keep one sheriff's deputy in the township at all hours for one year.

Dispatch and call-taking make up $51,709.83 of that bill.

Springfield - which initially faced the biggest bill as the largest township in Lucas County - was the toughest sell. The debate became a bidding war, with Springfield seeking proposals for services from Holland and Whitehouse police and Lucas County discounting its original offers twice to keep up.

During several public forums, Springfield trustees Andy Glenn and Bob Bethel insisted the county 911 levy should cover costs of call-taking and dispatch. Sheriff Jim Telb said the levy covers infrastructure and equipment in the 911 center, but not manpower costs.

Springfield Township trustees and the sheriff ultimately compromised by adding a special clause into the 11-month contract they inked in February that stated both sides agreed to present the matter to the attorney general - and agreed to be bound by his decision.

The decision by Attorney General Richard Cordray released Thursday states, "a county's final 911 plan may be amended to require a township that is served by a public safety answering point operated by the county sheriff to pay a portion of the costs associated with operating the public safety answering point."

That means the county 911 board must make legal changes before charging for dispatch and call-taking services, said John Borell, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor.

The decision affects only townships that contract with the sheriff for services.

The decision could further jeopardize the sheriff department's bottom line, with 26 layoffs this year and the threat of 16 more to make up for an estimated $4 million budget shortfall.

Both Sheriff Telb and County Administrator Peter Ujvagi did not return phone calls Thursday from The Blade.

Springfield Township trustees have formed a police study committee to create a long-term plan for policing and have placed a five-year, 3-mill levy for police protection on the November ballot. The levy would generate an estimated $1,746,000 annually, and cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $90 a year.

Mr. Glenn said he's hopeful voters will support the levy, and in the meantime will push for a review of the township's previous payments for dispatch and call-taking.

"So now the question really becomes how much of a refund is the township owed, because up until now, we were paying for that service," Mr. Glenn said. "It would seem to me at this point that the township is owed a substantial amount of money."

Contact Bridget Tharp at:

btharp@theblade.com

or 419-724-6086.