Edina Offered Compromise on E-911 Costs Amid Withdrawal Notice

By Echo Menges

EDINA, Mo. — After notifying Knox County of its intent to exit a shared E-911 dispatch payment agreement, the city of Edina is now weighing a proposal that would temporarily preserve dispatch services in 2025 while a long-term solution is prepared for a public vote.

During a Dec. 23 special meeting of the Edina City Council, officials reviewed an offer from the Knox County Commission that would reduce Edina’s share of dispatch funding to roughly $16,000 for 2025 — half of its current contribution. In exchange, Edina’s police officer would continue receiving dispatch services while on duty, including ordinance calls, license checks and background lookups — services county commissioners say would not be available if Edina pulls out of the agreement entirely.

Under the proposal, if Edina pays nothing, dispatch services would not be provided for its police officer, even while on duty.

“This is just a proposal — nothing is binding,” Mayor Linda Kerr told five of the six council members. “But if we do nothing, we lose dispatch access for even nonemergency calls.”

The proposal follows Edina’s Dec. 9 letter formally notifying the county of its intent to withdraw from the three-way E-911 cost-share agreement at the end of 2025. Under the current agreement, in place since 2013, Knox County, the Knox County Ambulance District and the city of Edina each pay one-third of the cost for dispatch services provided by the Macon County E-911 center.

This year, Edina’s share totaled $31,629.

City officials have said the cost is unsustainable and plan to redirect those funds to hire a full-time police chief focused on city ordinance enforcement. Currently, the city employs one part-time officer who is on duty no more than 24 hours per week.

Edina officials argue that, under Missouri law, fourth-class cities are not legally obligated to respond to emergency calls. However, while cities are not required to establish police departments, once they do, expectations for public safety — including emergency response — often follow. No Missouri court has ruled definitively on the matter.

“I spoke with [City Treasurer] Peggy [Collinge], and she said we could do it,” Kerr told the council. “She said we do have some funds available, that we could pay the $16,000.”

Five of the six aldermen were present for the special meeting — Staci Rimer, David Bugh, Don Crimm and Delmar Strange agreed to consider the proposal. Alderman Rick Yoakum remained firm that Edina should not pay.

“I don’t think it’s fair to the citizens of Edina. We pay county taxes,” Yoakum said.

A longer-term solution may come through a proposed half-cent countywide sales tax dedicated to 911 services. Knox County leaders are considering placing the measure on the April 2026 ballot to replace a sales tax that previously funded courthouse renovations.

If approved, the new tax would eliminate the need for annual contributions from the city, county and ambulance district. It would also create a 911 board to manage the funds, transferring oversight from the County Commission.

The 911 funding issue was also discussed during a Dec. 17 Knox County Commission meeting, where officials raised concerns about the strain Edina’s departure could place on local emergency services, including financially strapped volunteer fire departments and the ambulance district.

Council members indicated they would consider the county’s offer but requested a formal written agreement and legal review before making any decisions. Knox County commissioners are expected to meet with ambulance district officials this week.

As of now, Edina’s current payment covers dispatch service through mid-2025, giving all parties time to plan.