The Morgan County 911 director cleared up several of the Falkville Town Council’s lingering concerns Tues., Aug. 26 at a regular work session after they tabled the discussion about signing the annual agreement July 28.

The council asked Director Ryan Welty to return to the Aug. 26 work session for more information after his initial information session with the council during the July 28 work session.

He explained to the council that a call, which is anytime the Falkville Police Department is dispatched to a location, whether it is a self-dispatch or a dispatch from MC911, it is considered a call and Falkville is charged $4.04.

The previous year’s call numbers determines Falkville’s monthly cost for MC911 in the annual agreement. This year’s annual agreement will cost Falkville $1,887.35 a month totaling $22,648.20 a year, which is $1,295.04 more than last year’s $21,353.16 a year.

While Falkville’s payment has increased, the price per call has decreased from $4.47 to $4.04. The payment increase comes from an increased number in calls dispatching the Falkville Police Department.

Last work session, the council wanted a breakdown of call numbers so they might make improvements. Welty provided a breakdown that divided the calls into reason for dispatch. Falkville Police Chief Chris Free, chairman of the MC 911 Board of Commissioners, also said officers can obtain a breakdown according to Falkville’s four zones throughout the town and peak times of calls.

Councilman Ken Winkles asked if the town of Falkville had to pay the same price per call as profitable agencies such as some of the ambulance companies. Welty answered yes.

“I have a problem with us having to pay the same amount per call as profitable companies,” Winkles said. “We are a town with citizens not a business looking for ways to make money.”

Welty explained MC911’s board has a fair share policy that requires everyone to pay the same in an effort to distribute the payment evenly. He also said that paying MC911 is cheaper than providing their own dispatchers.

“Your own dispatchers getting $11 an hour would be much more expensive than paying us about $22,000 a year,” Welty said. “Falkville would need at least four dispatchers working 40 hours a week, which would be around $88,000 a year.”

Welty also updated the council on the status of their new radio system for Falkville’s police cars.

“Falkville is getting their new radios a little slower than other areas in the county because yours will be running off of the new Gum Springs tower,” Welty said. “Samaritan EMS will get their radios next month since they cover Falkville. This new Gum Springs tower has outstanding coverage.”

Chief Free said the new radios should be installed next week.

“We will hopefully get the new radios in each squad car sometime in the upcoming week,” Free said. “The drive tests have just been finished to make sure there are no dead spots. The coverage was phenomenal. I’d say it’s going to be better than other areas of the county not on the Gum Springs tower. This new system allows one radio to get in touch with all of Morgan County.”

Free explained to the council that the money from these annual agreements helps fund projects like the new radio towers.

“This money from cities, towns and agencies allow MC911 to make these necessary upgrades,” Free said. “I know it seems like a lot, but these upgrades take a lot of money and do a lot of good.”