Empty Consoles at Center Over Definition of Word

The legal definition of the word “console” is at issue in Asheville (NC), preventing the city’s police dispatchers from moving into a new county comm center. Six years ago the city and county agreed to share facilities to streamline emergency communications, and the sheriff and city fire department moved in last July. But the inter-government agreement has one sticking point for the county–does “console” cover all the attached radio gear or just the furniture in front of the dispatcher? The county wants the agreement reworded to limit the scope of their financial responsibility. Read more about the debate, along with the agreement and e-mail exchanges here.