Board to draft tree-down dispatch policy after Saint Paul mutual-aid concerns

The Decatur County Dispatch Advisory Board tabled immediate action on a mutual-aid issue involving Saint Paul and directed staff to draft a formal policy on tree-down dispatches.

Members reported that Saint Paul is not making a majority of its mutually agreed calls and that Waldron has not been responding to Saint Paul mutual-aid requests; Adams indicated willingness to assume mutual-aid responsibilities for those calls. A board member summarized that "Saint Paul's not making majority of their calls... Waldron's not coming in here responding to the Saint Paul calls," and recommended tabling the discussion until the next meeting to allow towns to work the issue out.

On tree-down responses, board members said the county fire association unanimously agreed that responders should clear trees blocking roadways to restore public safety; members clarified that if a deputy arrives and requests county fire, dispatch should send them, but that routine downed-tree calls had previously been dispatched to county highway under past practice. The board asked staff to work with LeeAnne to draft a formal policy clarifying when county fire should be dispatched for trees down and to place the proposed policy on the next advisory-board agenda. One member noted the target to have the policy in place by June 1, to accommodate vacation schedules and allow time for review.

Why it matters: mutual-aid coverage and clear dispatch policies for obstacles on roadways affect response times and public safety during storms and other incidents. The board emphasized coordination among municipalities and the need for a codified policy rather than ad-hoc practice.