The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office will take over the county’s 911 dispatch service beginning July 1.
The decision was announced at the Fannin County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, June 8.
As a result of the change, Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Deputy Director Patrick Cooke’s position will be eliminated, and he will serve as the county’s “I.T. person” and grant writer. Cooke had served as the 911 supervisor.
For one year, the department head status at 911 will be eliminated, and then the board will revisit it July 1, 2022.
“The setup, basically, nothing really is gonna change,” Commission Chairman Jamie Hensley said. “Other than the department now falls under the sheriff’s department.”
Hensley added that there will be the same number of employees; however, Sheriff Dane Kirby will have to appoint someone within his department to oversee the dispatch.
Hensley said that he completed a public service safety course in which it was noted that most 911 dispatch services in Georgia are under the umbrella of a sheriff’s department.
The course went further into why it should be under the sheriff’s department, he said.
After speaking with the department heads at the county’s EMA, as well as with Kirby, all agreed to make the change, Hensley said.
This change will save the county money since the county currently pays an outside source for I.T. help, according to Hensley.
In addition, the 15-year-old radio console system used by Fannin County 911 will be replaced with a system from Gunby Communication for $127,565.