Dispatch and health department receive funds, council seat search narrows
By Riley Funk
The city council approved funding for emergency dispatch services and city agencies Monday night.
St. Joseph City Council members voted unanimously 8-0-0 to approve upgrades to the local 911 operating system with Bill No. 778-22. The city will now file an application to the Missouri 911 Service Board to request funding to upgrade the control center’s current landline to a more internet-based system called Next Generation 911. The upgrades would aim to make the system faster and more resilient, and would also allow for voice, photos, videos and text messages to come through the 911 network.
District 4 city council member Michael Grimm said the proposed enhancements will make it easier for control center employees to assist the public in the event of an emergency.
“The more information we can obtain when we get that 911 call, the easier it is for the dispatchers to figure out how they’re going to handle it and what they need,” Grimm said.
Outside of emergency services, the City of St. Joseph Health Department also received financial support from the council to continue offering services in the city.
The contract with Buchanan County has been renewed for another year in the amount of $88,367. Some of the services include things like immunizations and health administrations, according to city documents.
Grimm said it was crucial to get the contract extended before budget season, which is right around the corner for the city.
“They (the health department) have the ability to carry on for the next year and know how much money they’re going to have. That costs a lot of money to run the health department, but it’s something St. Joe needs and has to have,” Grimm said.
The council also began moving forward with the process of filling an open seat.
Council members reviewed applications for the vacant seat representing District 2 at a work session before the official council meeting, announcing that the search has narrowed to six candidates: J.L. Robertson, Jason Eslinger, Breanna Bland, Michael Cox, Michelle Traster and Richard Bolton.
Mandatory interviews will take place on April 4. The council will then vote on the person to fill the vacant spot on April 9. The newly-elected council member will be sworn in before the next city council meeting slated for April 15.
