THOMPSON’S STATION, Tenn. (WKRN) — Talks are on between the Thompson’s Station and Williamson County as some county commissioners argue the town is underpaying the sheriff's office for its public safety services.

"It's time that Thompson's Station and your office get together and pay their fair share,” Williamson County Commissioner Greg Sanford said in Monday night’s meeting.

Currently, the town pays $250,000 to the Williamson County Sheriff's Office for their service. Thompson's Station's mayor, Brian Stover, said the town has doubled their public safety spending to WCSO from last year, and he's always been willing to pay what the county asks.

"If we're going to use their services, we need to pay our fair share," Stover told News 2. "We are more than willing to do that. If it's $500,000, then that's what we have to do."

According to the WCSO, allocating 24/7 coverage solely within the Town's limits would cost the Town about $1.5 million.  However, right now any WCSO deputies responding to calls in Thompson's Station are also responding to calls across the county.

"We can't promise them exclusive coverage. We count Thompson's Station as a zone. They're the sixth zone, But even if they paid us that $1.5 million, they would like for us to allocate that deputy to their town, well we can't do that,” Sheriff Jeff Hughes with the WCSO explained at the Monday night meeting.

What the town can do to get exclusive coverage is create their own police department, which Stover said he hopes to accomplish within the next three to four years.

Williamson County Commissioner Chas Morton added during Monday night's meeting that WCSO must provide Thompson's Station public safety services regardless of payment or r having their own police force.

"We're moving in the right direction. Negotiate hard, but remember at the end of the day we don't have the option of not providing Thompsons's Station safety," Morton said. "They're Williamson County residents just like all of us."

News 2 asked Stover what steps have been taken to create their own police department. Stover said the town will have a public workshop on Sept. 29 with MTAS police consultants and multiple surveys will go out to residents soon to gather public feedback.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/thompsons-station-wcso-payment/