A bid by Jefferson County Sheriff Gerald Robinson to end his department’s association with the Metropolitan Emergency Communications Association has been turned down by the county attorney.
Jackie Harris, who assumed his duties as county attorney in July, said in a memo to County Judge Dutch King that the sheriff was not a party to the original agreement with MECA.
“Therefore he has no standing or authority to terminate the interlocal cooperation agreement entered into by and between Jefferson County and the city of Pine Bluff,” Harris said.
Harris was responding to a letter from Robinson to King, who is chairman of the 9-1-1 Administrative Board this year, that he was giving notice of the sheriff’s department’s termination of the agreement effective July 25, 2014.
A section of that agreement, which was adopted by the city and county in 1994 said the relationship between the city and county is intended to be permanent, but may be terminated by either party giving the other written notice at least a year in advance.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Robinson’s letter cited that section of the agreement as his authority to withdraw.
Harris, however, said the agreement complies with all aspects of state law and the state constitution and “was a valid exercise of the powers of the Jefferson County Quorum Court and the Jefferson County Judge.”
“The Jefferson County Sheriff’ cannot unilaterally terminate such an agreement,” Harris said.
MECA, which began operation in 1995, handles both emergency and non-emergency communications for all public safety agencies in the county with the exception of the Arkansas State Police, and is funded from fees collected by telephone companies, both land line and cell phones, as well as fees charged the county and all cities in the county based on usage. For example, the city of Pine Bluff pays the highest amount annually, with the county second, ands cities like Wabbaseka and Altheimer paying a much smaller amount.
The agreement also created an administrative board composed of the Jefferson County judge, mayor of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County sheriff, chief of the Pine Bluff Police Department, chief of the Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services Department, coordinator of the county Office of Emergency Services and the chairman of the 9-1-1 Administrative Board.
Robinson said in his letter to King that with construction of the new sheriff’s department office nearing completion, “we would like to exercise more oversight of our communications personnel so that we can ensure that the handling of requests for emergency services within my agency’s jurisdiction are conducted effectively and efficiently as possible.”
A call seeking comment from Robinson was not returned Thursday afternoon.