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Commissioners approve tower removal and surplus of mobile command center; emergency services request training and dispatch staffing review
Summary
The board approved removal of a sheriff's department tower and declared the county's mobile command trailer surplus, and emergency-services staff briefed commissioners on dispatch staffing and training needs.
The Miller County Board of Commissioners approved removing a lighted communications tower at the sheriff's office and voted to surplus an aging mobile command trailer. Commissioners also heard several emergency-services items and plans for training and staffing.
County staff explained the lighted tower at the sheriff's office has a burned-out light; removal will be scheduled for late January. Commissioners approved a motion to remove the tower and directed staff to keep sections of the tower in storage where feasible for re-use on other county projects such as camera supports.
Sheriff's office and emergency-management staff discussed replacement options for the county's aging mobile command trailer. The sheriff said the current trailer is deteriorating and proposed declaring it surplus so proceeds could help fund a drivable mobile command unit. Commissioners approved a motion to surplus the mobile command center. Staff said possible Homeland Security grant opportunities could support purchase of a new mobile command vehicle but may require a 75/25 local match; survival-flight and other partners were mentioned as potential funding sources for training or certification costs.
The board also heard from the dispatch supervisor about rising call volume (the transcript reports 2,060 combined calls for Miller and Baker counties). The supervisor described operational constraints: two dispatchers are scheduled after-hours and a growing call volume and more medically complex calls are lengthening call-hold times. The supervisor requested the board consider adding a third dispatcher in the next budget cycle and pursuing Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certification and a medical director so dispatchers can provide pre-arrival medical instructions. The supervisor said TCPR certification is already in place for staff but that a formal EMD policy and supporting equipment/cards are needed; Survival Flight was reported as willing to pay for EMD certification, pending contract logistics.
Commissioners asked staff to investigate grant opportunities, coordinate training dates (including an elected-official NIMS training for the board and city council), and report back with cost estimates and a procurement plan.
