COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A decision by the Branch County Board of Commissioners on a proposed 911 Service Plan and bylaws for the County has been scheduled for January 12.
The Commissioners for a second time in eight days tabled a vote during a special meeting on Wednesday after Commissioner Jon Houtz said meetings this week with a stakeholders committee were not held.
Meetings were unable to be held after the wife of 911 Board Chair Keith Baker past away last Saturday. Commission Chair Terri Norris expressed her condolences to Baker.
Houtz was confident meetings with committee members can take place after the first of the year and those he has met with agree it’s time to stop kicking the can down the road.
Norris’ term on the Board of Commissioners ends on Thursday and she urged Commissioners not to delay a decision any further than the January 12 meeting.
Local government, police and fire agencies had earlier asked Commissioners to not take action so that various concerns that have been raised about the plan by stakeholders could be addressed.
Many felt the plan as presented left all of the authority and decision making with the County and relegated all of the other municipalities, law enforcement agencies, fire services, townships and public to strictly an advisory role.
In other business, the Commissioners approved a request from County Administrator Bud Norman to send out Requests for Proposals on the initial funding for the new $9-point-3 million 911 Communications System. The initial funding could come through bonds, grants or loans. Part of the project is being funded through a six-year surcharge which was approved by Branch County voters in November.
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