HERMANN — Gasconade County Central Dispatch will continue calling out Hermann-area public service agencies after the current six-month run ends, thanks to a contract extension approved Monday night by the city’s Board of Aldermen (BOA).

City legislators approved a two-month extension to run through June 30 during its second regular session of the month. The initial contract called for Central Dispatch to perform dispatching duties through April.

Dispatching of Hermann police, the Hermann Fire Company, Hermann Area Ambulance District and other local services was shifted to Central Dispatch at the start of the year after the city was faced with losing two part-time dispatchers. The contract extension appears to reflect the ongoing difficulty of recruiting employees needed for the city to resume dispatching from its own center, operated by the Hermann Police Department in City Hall.

City Administrator Patricia Heaney said the aldermen would reconsider another extension at the end of this two-month run.

The initial agreement between City Hall and the Gasconade County Enhanced-911 Board of Directors calls for the city to pay $2,500 a month for the county agency to provide dispatch services from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

In other matters during the session, the BOA gave second-round approval to a contract with Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) to assist the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission craft an updated Comprehensive Plan. According to P&Z Chairman Dolores Grannemann, this updated plan will cover between 5 to 10 years, a shorter period than most municipal comprehensive plans, also known as master plans. A comprehensive plan is designed to serve as a blueprint for city officials in making growth and development decisions.

Although an older city, Hermann has had planning and zoning authority only for the last 30 years; city government officials have been guided by the Comprehensive Plan adopted three decades ago.

Meanwhile, the board acted on several other items: Approving the low bid from Arkansas Electric Cooperatives for $23,564 for utility poles; approving the low bid from Hood & Associates certified public accountants for $113,300 for auditing services; renewing employee health insurance from Schroepfer-Bauer Insurance; approving renewals of Conditional Use Permits for owner-unoccupied guesthouses for Timothy Cahill for French hill in the 500 block of East 2nd Street and Jim Holland for Mundwiller Inn in the 400 block of Washington Street; approving Special Event Applications for Big Bam LLC for Big Bam on the Katy with camping and vendors at Riverfront Park June 6 and 7 and Oct. 10 and 11; approving Festival Event Applications for Hermann Masonic Temple Association for food sales at the caboose area on Oct. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27; home-Style Eats LLC for a food truck at Hermann VFW pavilion on Oct. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27; and Historic Hermann Museum for authentic tintype photography on May 18 and 19.

The board also approved a Caterer’s Permit for Old Vine Kitchen Emporium for Maifest on Schiller Street on Saturday, May 18.