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cooperative dispatch service. Poling emphasized that the county has a responsibility under state law towards fire departments. “We must remember we’re all here to provide service,” he said, adding that two landowners in the county, one on Hickerson Mountain and the other on Bessie Bell, have volunteered land for a radio tower site. He reported that the emergency services council is applying to the federal communications svstem for a study on the best tower location.
“It’s going to cost money but wouldn’t it be better to do it now rather than down the road,” he said of the dispatch service. Poling added that the town will be needed for communications with area hospitals, with or without the dispatch service.
Luke said he wasn’t against providing a local dispatch service but added that a "politically acceptable” solution must be found. If county residents support spending $65,000 for fire and rescue dispatch, then they needed to hold their hands up in the air at a supervisors’ meeting, he said.
“We can play hardball” in retaliation for Culpeper discontinuing dispatch service here, the chairman continued. "We can cut them off on the dumpsters, on fire and resuce (service across the county line),” he said. Luke added, however, that “humanely, it’s not a good idea.”
In conclusion, he said he would speak to the Culpeper supervisors to see if Rappahannock can work out an agreement to continue sharing dispatch service by possibly funding additional staff. Luke also said he would contact the planning district for help and at the same ' time, seek to persuade the State Compensation Board to pick up salaries for five nnsitions required to operate the county s own fire, rescue and sheriffs department dispatch service.
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