NEW DOTHAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) – Dothan city officials are expected to approve funding for construction of a new communications center to house city and county dispatchers, as well as the county Emergency Management Agency.

On Tuesday, the City Commission  is anticipated to give the Dothan-Houston County Communications District the final approval it seeks for $5.5 million of bonds to be used for both construction and equipment for the new facility.

Officials have talked about the possibility of a joint communication center for more than a decade, but differences of opinion on command structure and other issues kept the center from gaining traction until recently. The center, expected to be completed in October 2016, will house both city and county dispatchers, but they will serve within the current command structure.