By Carol McIntire
Editor
February 3, 2009
A Carroll County commissioner has plans to revamp the county’s 911 committee.
Commissioner Tom Wheaton, who is now overseeing the county’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and the 911 committee, said Thursday he and EMA Director Tom Cottis met and discussed plans to take the committee in a new direction.
“I want to change the name to Carroll County Emergency Communications Committee and have outlined six major projects we want to accomplish,” Wheaton said.
The projects include:
911 administration and implementation of Phase II (identifies the location of cell phone callers).
Get the 911 system that makes calls to residents operating once again.
Implement the MARCS radio system (equipment for this project has arrived).
Pursue a grant to purchase laptop computers for Sheriff Dept. cruisers.
Complete GIS mapping in the county.
Move the dispatch center in the Sheriff’s Dept. upstairs in the EMA Emergency Operations Center.
“We were to have Phase II of the 911 system already implemented, but the equipment hasn’t even been ordered,” he explained. The MARCS radios are here, but we recently learned there will be a user fee of approximately $22,000 per year. We are going to have to ask the fire departments, EMTs and law enforcement departments that receive them to pay their share of the fee. I don’t see where we can find money in the general fund to pay this fee. Originally, we were told there would not be a user fee; now there is one.”
As for the GIS mapping system, Cottis said this project needs to be completed. He noted they will be using the same company as used by the engineer’s department and auditor, so that should help keep the cost down.
Sheriff Williams previously asked commissioners for permission to move the dispatch center to the second floor of the jail to cut down on noise and distractions and create a more confidential center. He plans to use donated time and materials to complete the majority of the project.
“We have several projects, so we may need more members who can add their expertise in the various areas,” Wheaton stated. The committee, which Wheaton said has not met in several months, was scheduled to meet Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the EOC.
Cottis and Wheaton presented information on an intern working in the EMA office. Cottis said Todd Smith, a student at Akron University is spending five hours per day, three days per week in his office working on the county’s emergency communications plan. A planning grant pays for one hour for each five hours worked and the University is covering the remainder of the cost. Cottis said Smith should be working through the month of June.
In other business, commissioners:
-APPROVED the annexation of 44.003 acres to the village of Carrollton from Center Twp. The land is owned by The Sisters of Our Lady of Charity. Center Twp. trustees have approved the annexation. It now moves to village council for final approval.
-APPOINTED Jeff Yeager to the Public Defenders Board to fill the unexpired term of John Campbell for a term that ends Jan. 31, 2011, and reappointed Jim Hull and Rick Hannon to the Public Defenders Board for terms ending Jan. 31, 2013.
-RECEIVED the weekly dog pound report showing 11 impounded, eight tagged and one redeemed.
-RECEIVED a report on the Neighborhood Stabilization program meeting held Friday at the Carrollton Senior Friendship Center. Commissioner President Larry Garner said he doesn’t expect much of the $1.5 million to come to Carroll County, but the county’s consultant is working closely with state officials to bring as much money as possible into the county. A second meeting on the program is set for this Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Senior Center. The grant application is due Feb. 27. |
