Minutes 05/07/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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THURSDAY, MAY 7. 1998 Council next considered the budget request of the E911 Communications Center. Mr. Wes Ashley, Executive Director was present to discuss the budget. Mr. Ashley reviewed his background and experience, and then proceeded to discuss the organizational structure of the E911 Center. He then discussed requested budget items which included a new Telecommunication/Clerical position, equipment upgrades, phone system improvements, physical expansion of the center to accommodate technical improvements, and call loads relative to the City and Henry County. Mr. Reynolds pointed out that no decision had yet been made to carry out an expansion of the E911 Center, and that there were no funds in the proposed budget for this purpose. He went on to say that a radio system study done two years ago had indicated the possibility of the need to go to an 800 Trunking System, but that later evaluation had shown that the best solution to the City's needs did not require this, and noted that there was $92,000 in the proposed budget to address the City' s needs through a different approach. Mr. Reynolds also noted that the measures necessary to correct the County' s radio communication problems might cost as much as $4.5 million. Some discussion then took place on the cost sharing formula between the City and Henry County to support the operations of the E911 Center. Vice- Mayor Crabtree, noting that the formula included a factor based on calls for service through the Center, asked if there were things that could be done to reduce this number. Mr. Ashley responded that the definition of call for service needed to be examined, based upon experience to this point in time, and that this issue would be studied carefully. He noted that there was the possibility of going to another number, such as 311, for non- emergency calls that required no E911 handling. Mr. Reynolds agreed with this possible approach, stating that persons calling for directions, information or other non-emergency purposes did not need to go through a E911 dispatcher, and that the goal should be to lower the percentage of E911 service calls. Council Member Haskell then asked about the compensation increases shown for the E911 staff; and Mr. Reynolds pointed out that the figures shown reflected the fact that these employees were paid through the Henry County pay plan, not the City' s. Some additional discussion of the revenue from the E911 telephone surcharge took place and the budget discussion of the E911 Center was concluded.