Champlain Township to stick with Hawkesbury emergency dispatch - for now

Champlain Township council has agreed to pay the Town of Hawkesbury an eight per cent increase for emergency dispatch services next year but council will be looking at other options, in light of looming increases.

The Town of Hawkesbury is in negotiations with dispatchers at this time, Champlain Township Mayor Gary Barton told fellow-councillors at Champlain Township's most recent regular meeting.

Even with the contracts for dispatch services with other municipalities, operating the service still cost the Town of Hawkesbury $290,000, Barton said.

Champlain Township pays about $30,000 per year as part of a contract with the Town of Hawkesbury to use its emergency dispatch services.

"They are trying to recoup their losses," said Barton.

"If their negotiations go to arbitration in December and if the arbitrator awards everything, we could be looking at going from $26,000 to $53,000 per year," Barton said.

Barton told council that the township had been asked to complete a survey which contained three options for Champlain Township.

One question asked if the municipality would continue to use Hawkesbury's dispatch services if the Town of Hawkesbury implemented a 101 per cent cost increase over the next three years.

A second question asked if Champlain Township would accept a 50 per cent increase over the next three years and a third question asked if Champlain Township would accept a 24 per cent cost increase over the next three years.

Barton noted that the United Counties of Prescott-Russell, which currently uses services provided by the Town of Hawkesbury, is also looking for a cheaper option.

In the end, Champlain Township agreed to the third option, with the knowledge that in any case, there is a six-month op-out option available to them.