It was made official on Thursday.
The Perry County Commission made final approval of a contract for dispatch services with St. Francios County Joint Communication Center 911 in front of several Perry County residents.
Although the issue of keeping 911 local has been a controversial topic in recent months, Perry County Presiding Commissioner Mike Sauer believes the move is good for the area.
“We have to have dispatch,” Sauer said. “What we believe that we have found is a better service for a cheaper rate in St. Francois County.”
So what’s next?
Current and former dispatchers, as well as emergency responders and law enforcement are part of the drive to keep 911 in the county.
After speaking against the move in October to the Perryville Board of Aldermen, Perry County residents have since signed a petition in January to create a ballot initiative — which would include a new half-cent tax — Sauer said that there is a buyout clause in the contract in case the sales tax passes.
There was some confusion among those in attendance about what exactly the sale tax actually pays for.
“The sales tax pays for 911 dispatch,” Sauer said. “The Justice Center tax that was previously passed pays for the building. This is a whole separate tax. We couldn’t put multiple taxes together when we did the building. That’s where a lot of people get confused. They thought when they voted on a tax for the building, they voted on a tax for everything and that is not the case.”
If the tax passes, there will be a board of directors created and members will be appointed by the Perry County Commission. Then once they are picked, members will be elected.
“It will be just like the Health Board or a School Board,” Sauer said.