Taylor on countywide dispatcher
question:
Do you think there should be a countywide dispatch center? Why? And if so, should it be mandatory that cities such as Hanford and Corcoran join?answer:
We are exploring the pros and cons of a countywide dispatch center at this time. Presently, the county is talking with the cities of Avenal and Lemoore about forming a J.P.A. (joint powers agency) to oversee a joint dispatch center. The cities of Corcoran and Hanford each have their own dispatch centers and are at this time not part of the discussion. A J.P.A. is a voluntary union by entities to achieve a more efficient or cheaper way of delivering a service. You cannot force any entity to join. There are provisions in the J.P.A. to allow for new entities to join at a later time if they wish.