Minutes Archive

Emergency Telephone District Board Meeting Minutes

March 20, 2007

Present:	Chairman Allen L. Byam, Vice-Chairman Mike Olson, Greg Purcell, Eric Miller, Bill Hankinson, Tom Hardy

Also Present:	Jill Fish, Gordon Webb, Rob Coles, Frank Post, Don Cathcart

Call To Order/Recognition of Quorum:

The March 20, 2007 Meeting of the Emergency Telephone District Board was called to order by Chairman Allen L. Byam, at 8:30 a.m., noting a quorum was present.

Agenda Review/Member Additions:

Chairman Byam indicated he had an item regarding a 9-1-1 call he had made and would address this matter later on in the meeting.

Approval of Minutes - February 20, 2007:

The minutes of the February 20, 2007 ETDB were approved on a Motion by Mr. Purcell and supported by Mr. Miller. Voice Vote - Motion Carried.

Financial Report:

Mr. Purcell advised the members the Financial Report included in the Agenda was for funds distributed to the PSAPs through the month of January.

E 9-1-1 Service Article from Grand Rapids Press

Mr. Purcell has provided an article, which is included with the Agenda for this meeting, from the Grand Rapids Press which addresses the issue of cell phone users not paying “their share” for 911 service. State Law has not kept up with technology. The State Emergency Telephone Service Committee is recommending a statewide 25-cent surcharge on all phones and devices capable of dialing 911. At the present time, cell pone users pay no county fee. They pay 29 cents a month to the state for 911. Prepaid cell phones and “Voice over the Internet” service pay nothing.

The biggest recommended change is that Counties could collect surcharges on all kinds of telephones, not just land line phones. Also, it would lead to first time surcharges on prepaid phones and Voice-over-internet services,

In the article, Harriet Miller-Brown, the State 911 Administrator commented, “more than half of the 6.5 million calls made to 911 were made on wireless phones”

Mr. Purcell suggested to Chairman Byam that he invite Representative Mike Nofs to come to another of the ETDB Meetings to provide the Committee with a “Lansing Update” on what is happening in the E 911 arena with regard to proposed state changes.

Final Fire Service Grant Update:

Mr. Olson advised the members that he is at long last in the final 90 days of the Fire Grant. They have recently drawn down $169,000 and will be closing out with FEMA shortly. Mr. Olson indicated if Mr. Muladore had been kept on, it would have been advantageous to consider other grant possibilities, but couldn’t recommend it now because of the inordinate amount of time it takes just to keep up with the paperwork affiliated with each and every grant. Further, Mr. Olson reminded the group that this is a 2004 Grant that is just being wrapped up in 2007. The good news here is this would have not been allowed if it had been for any other purpose other than interoperability. That is the only reason FEMA allowed the extension. All in all, he indicated things went well. There was one glitch, with the fire service, having to do with repeaters. They had an old analog repeater and when it was replaced with a digital it created a litany of problems. That being said, Mr. Olson indicated that his fire services would be up and going “live” today. Also indicated Gordon Webb and Don Cathcart would be working on the programming later today.

Mr. Miller extended his thanks to Mr. Olson for all his work on the Fire Grant. Further, indicated he is pleased with the system with the exception of the problems they have been experiencing with the neighboring fire agencies. There have also been some difficulties with the talk groups which will not allow Emmett-Springfield-Albion to talk to each other.

Emmett Township Public Safety Director Frank Post indicated he had DIT down to look at the problem and believes the problem had to do with keyloaders. They are being reprogrammed in Lansing. Mr. Miller suggests encryption be added to any future MOU’s. Ms. Fish asked that the Directors provide her with any her copies of MOU’s so they can be placed on file at Central Dispatch.

800 Implementation Update:

Gordon Webb indicated they are moving again. They are waiting for confirmation from the City of Battle Creek for a date certain regarding the Dispatch Center move. Chairman Byam asked Ms. Fish if there was any truth to the rumor that they were not going to move? Ms. Fish responded she had not heard that, and believes the Center move is moving forward. They have had meetings with their Architectural Firm and several safety issues have been addressed. (Parking, Fence, cameras, etc.) Further, Ms. Fish indicated that Assistant City Manager Tsuchiyama has been supportive of the move.

Mr. Purcell inquired as to whether or not there was any Schedule/Timetable available? Ms. Fish indicated she did not have a timeline. Ms. Fish expressed concern that cooling the new center will be one of the most important things they have to deal with as the Dispatch Center is fully operational 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The Heating/Cooling people have already been contacted and they are in the process of providing an estimate.

Gordon Webb indicated once his people are able to occupy the space they will be done in approximately 90 days. Also, they are looking at “0" downtime. They are simply waiting for the “go ahead” from the City to proceed.

Chairman Byam had indicated earlier he had a matter he wanted to bring to the attention of the Committee. Last Thursday evening, after the Board of Commissioners Meeting, he was on the West Side of the County Building steps with Commissioner Bolger when they observed a vehicle driving erratically, going up and over the curb and speeding away. Mr. Byam called 9-1-1 on his cellphone (Nextel) and was surprised when his call went to Battle Creek and he received a recording. After approximately 4 or 5 rings, the call was answered and transferred to Marshall Dispatch. Marshall PD was then dispatched promptly. Mr. Byam noted that the Marshall Dispatcher answered the call on the second ring.

There was considerable discussion regarding why and how this happened, being that there is a Nestle Tower in the Industrial Park and the call should have been routed to the Marshall Dispatch Center. Jill Fish indicated she would try the call when she left the meeting this morning to see where her call ended up.

Tom Hardy indicated that he has heard numerous taxpayer complaints about Medicals. Specifically, when they dial 911, they have to provide information, then when their call is switched to Life care, they have to repeat the information again. There was discussion regarding Prioritizing Calls. Mr. Hardy noted that sometimes Priority l calls are dispatched as Priority 3 and vice versa. Mr. Miller commented in Albion, they send an officer on all medical calls as their ambulance service (Huron Valley) stages some distance from Albion and it takes approximately twenty minutes for ambulance arrival. Ms. Fish inquired if Albion D.S. has an Agreement with Huron Valley and indicated that there should be a caveat included therein whereby the ambulance must be staged in Calhoun County.

Dispatch Staffing Update:

Ms. Fish advised the members that she has hired four individuals, who are in the process of being trained. The list of potential employees that she has been working with has been exhausted. There are no further potential candidates on the list. There will have to be new potential employees and new testing done before they can actually consider hiring anyone else. She currently has seven part-time employees. Their Authorized Staffing level is 22, and they are currently at 18. Ms. Fish stressed the need for all new Dispatchers to be trained accurately and appropriately. They begin training on LIEN, then on to Call Taking and then Fire. Ms. Fish indicated that she was happy to report that her probationary employees have caught on quickly. She hopes to be up to 22 employees by August.

Concerns were expressed relative to the fact that the Dispatch Operation has been operating for some time below their authorized staffing level. Director Post asked Ms. Fish what their authorized staffing level was with Ms. Fish responding 22. At the present time they have 18 on staff. This number will increase as the probationary employees successfully complete their training and become full time employees. Ms. Fish emphasized that Assistant City Manager Tsuchiyama is very supportive of hiring additional people and she hopes to have their authorized staffing level raised to 24 by mid summer. This is a matter that will be addressed with the City of Battle Creek’s Human Resources Department. Again, Ms. Fish stressed she will not be hiring from the present list of potential employees as there are no viable candidates left on the list. As a matter of fact, there are individuals on that list who did not pass the test(s) in the first place.

It was noted that if Police Agencies have issues with Dispatch, they should notify Jill Fish immediately.

Member Comments:

Mr. Miller inquired as to how the Compliance Audit was coming for Battle Creek Dispatch. Jill Fish responded that she had received a telephone call from Harriett Miller-Brown’s Office and they will be scheduling a date certain to come in for the Compliance Review at Battle Creek Dispatch very soon.

Public Comments:

None.

Next Meeting: April 17, 2007

There being no further business to discuss at this time, the meeting was adjourned on a Motion by Mr. Olson, supported by Mr. Miller - Voice Vote - Motion Carried - the time being 10:22 a.m.

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