Fire departments across Bruce, Grey and Huron Counties are now scrambling to find a new dispatch service.
The Hanover Police Board has finalized its decision to end its dispatch service at the end of this year.
That means the Hanover and Wingham Police Department and 21 fire departments must find a new dispatcher.
Police Board Chair Bob White tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the decision came down to money.
White notes the service has been losing money since 2009 and they couldn’t justify losing more when their biggest client — West Grey Police — decided to switch to Owen Sound dispatch.
Hanover Police Inspector Chris Knoll confirms they are in the final stages of negotiations to also switch to the Owen Sound dispatch in 2013.
The Hanover Police Department employees 9 dispatchers — six full time and three part time employees — but two have already been hired part time by Owen Sound.
Knoll says their Police response will not change — the only thing that does change is where the call from a Hanover resident is answered.
White — who is Hanover’s Deputy Mayor — admits he has some concerns about switching dispatches, but he believes it makes sense to use a local service like Owen Sound’s.
