FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners decided Tuesday there would not be enough time this year to prepare for a November referendum question related to building a new dispatch center.

A county referendum on a major project has to be on a day when there is a statewide vote, according to Clerk Julie Magoon. There is a statewide vote in November, Magoon said, but the information would need to be put together by early August for the vote later in the year.

There is another statewide vote opportunity in June 2012 to get the county’s referendum question to the voters.

Magoon suggested waiting until next spring and having a new committee formed to develop a proposal for a new dispatch/communications center.

“I don’t think we want to risk the project,” she said. “I think we want to do it right.”

It’s not going to hurt the project because nothing could be done during this fiscal year, she said.

The only money in the budget is $20,000 to cover the referendum and legal and other associated costs to put the project before voters.

Commissioners directed the Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Ray Meldrum to set up a committee to begin work on what will be needed in the building.

Commissioner Clyde Barker of Strong volunteered to serve on the committee. Magoon also suggested that others be asked including members of the Budget Committee, Sheriff’s Department and dispatchers.

There is a preliminary design for a dispatch center that was drafted for a previous referendum to improve space in county buildings. the referendum included more than the dispatch center and voters rejected it in November 2010.

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