By Shannon McFarlin
Paris, Tenn.–The Henry County Central Dispatch project is steadily moving forward and committee members are eyeing this summer as a possibility for it to begin operation.
At Monday’s meeting of the County 911 Board, Sheriff Josh Frey said he, 911 Director Mark Archer and Paris Police Chief Ricky Watson have been meeting “and we’re at the point now where we’re trying to figure out the numbers that would be involved.”
In January, the Henry County 911 Board unanimously gave the official green light to creation of a Central Dispatch for the county.
Archer has spoken with County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway and Paris City Manager Kim Foster “and we’re going to all try to meet next week and hopefully get everyone on the same page,” he said.
Frey sid, “I think this is a very viable plan and that everything is going to fall into place this time. There’s a lot of moving parts with both the city and county involved and if we have to push it off a few months, we will.”
911 Board Chairman John Etheridge said, “I know all of you want this, but change is difficult and hopefully you can come forward with a framework.”
Watson said, “We’re as close as we’ve ever been”, to which Frey agreed. “I think now is the time. It seems like everyone is in the right place at this point.”
Frey noted the December, 2021 tornadoes showed everyone how important a Central Dispatch would be for Henry County. “We had people scattered all over between the sheriff’s office and city hall and it would have been much better if everyone was in the same place.”
Etjerodge said, “I know it’s an effort and I appreciate all the work you’re putting into it.”
Meanwhile, renovations are moving foward at the 911 building, with computer terminals and furniture installed. “We have the CADs installed at most of the stations now and in another month, we’ll be up and running.”
In other business:
–Archer reported that the county radio system is “doing very well. There are some things we’re working on with law enforcement and programming, but we’re working through these things and working hard to resolve it.”
Photo: 911 board members in discussion at tonight’s meeting. (Shannon McFarlin photo).