By Rupert Howell

While City of Sardis officials are contemplating whether to join the county’s emergency dispatch service to cut cost, they passed an order demanding payment of $22,236 from the City of Como for payment in arrears for dispatch service previously provided.

Sardis Police Department has until this month provided dispatch services for Como who is now using Panola County dispatch’s service at considerable cost savings.

That was news to Sardis officials until recently who had budgeted Como’s $3,308 monthly payments into their budget and are now looking at decreased funding to pay dispatchers as well as a need to upgrade equipment.

Alderman-at-Large Roy Scallorn, who is acting mayor in the absence of Mayor Rusty Dye, entertained a motion to authorize City Attorney Tommy Shuler to send a demand letter to Como — a motion made by Alderman Lula Palmer which passed unanimously.

Scallorn, who has experience in dispatch, suggested that Sardis look into a previously proposed centralized dispatching system run by a board with representatives from member municipalities and agencies while noting that he was uncomfortable with a central dispatch administered by only one participating agency.

Board members took no action at Tuesday’s meeting other than the demand letter as Scallorn’s appeal was a request to consider.