JENNINGS — The Jeff Davis Parish E-911 and sheriff’s dispatch center will relocate to a building near the new parish jail, just west of Jennings.

The Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury approved recommendations Wednesday from parish 911 Committee Chairman Tom Kilpatrick to buy the 300,000-square foot building from the Sheriff’s Office for $275,000.

The Police Jury and Sheriff’s Office recently completed negotiations to buy the front half of the former Gary Construction Co. at 1602 U.S. 90 to use as a dispatch center.

“Every 911 and sheriff dispatcher will be in that building,” Police Jury President Donald Woods said.

Woods said the 911 center and dispatchers needed “more space to operate.” Having them near the new jail will help consolidate the Sheriff’s Office, he said.

The dispatch center is now on the first floor of the parish courthouse.

Plans for the new center include a meeting room. Planning meetings are now held in the old courtroom on the second floor of the parish courthouse.

The center includes plans for the Sheriff’s Office to house an employee to operate an APHIS system, which will allow inmates and family members to visit without having any direct contact, Woods said.

Under the recommendations approved by the Police Jury, the parish’s E-911 will reimburse the Sheriff’s Office for half of 911 employees’ salaries, health insurance and pensions. It will also reimburse the Sheriff’s Office for half of the 911 director/commander’s salary and benefits.

It will also reimburse the Sheriff’s Office for the 911 director’s mileage for 911 business and for information technology provided by the sheriff on 911 equipment.

E-911 will pay for a new generator and a new tower. Funds for the center are collected from a 911 surcharge on cellphones and landlines.

(mgnonline.com)