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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) 9-1-1 Public Service Answering Point dispatchers now employed with the Valley City will become Barnes County employees on January first 2013.

Emergency Operations Manager Kim Franklin will oversee the 9-1-1 dispatch workers as a temporary coordinator until the transfer is complete.

Commissioner Eldred Knutson said a majority of the members on the 9-1-1 advisory board committee felt it was important to transfer the employees back to county control. Knutson added officials that work with 9-1-1 operations in the state say Barnes County dispatchers should be under the umbrella of the county like they are in other counties.

Commissioner Jon Froelich was strongly against the move citing the cost to the county and he questioned the reasoning behind it.

Valley City administrator David Schelkoph said he was disappointed by the county commission’s decision to transfer 9-1-1 dispatchers over to the county.

Barnes County Commissioners Cindy Schwehr, Rodger Berntson and Eldred Knutson vote in favor of transferring 9-1-1 employees back to the county. Commission president Schwehr gave one reason why she supported it.

And 9-1-1 advisory board committee member Duane Didier echoed that comment.

Commissioner’s Jon Froehlich and Phil Leitner voted against the motion. More details of the transfer will be worked out and released between now and January.