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Eaton County 9-1-1 director outlines staffing, funding and radio-system operations
Summary
Kelly Cunningham, director of Eaton County Central Dispatch, described staffing, funding via millage and a $1.65 surcharge, the Michigan Public Safety Communications System, monthly siren tests, training and a current telecommunicator vacancy.
Kelly Cunningham, director of Eaton County Central Dispatch (the county 9-1-1 center), told the Public Safety Committee on Jan. 4 that the center dispatches for multiple agencies, is funded by a dedicated millage and a $1.65 monthly wireless surcharge, and operates county radio infrastructure connected to the statewide Michigan Public Safety Communications System.
Cunningham said the 9-1-1 center has 16 dispatchers, six supervisors, an executive assistant and a unit that manages warrants and personal protection orders. She told the committee the center dispatches for eight law enforcement agencies, 13 fire departments and six EMS agencies. The millage pays general operations and the surcharge — described in her presentation as $1.65 on phone bills — funded the county radio infrastructure and ongoing debt service for towers and other equipment.
She described the county27s role in radio maintenance and said Eaton County went live on the Michigan Public Safety Communications System in 2019. Cunningham said the center provides mobile computers and radio access for patrol cars and iPads for fire departments, and that dispatch manages and maintains radio infrastructure and towers used across the county.
Cunningham described operational details and recent activity: an upgraded uninterruptible power supply (UPS) battery replacement for continuity during power outages; communications support for local parades; monthly outdoor warning-siren tests on the first Saturday at 1 p.m.; and training including state-mandated telecommunicator certification and active-violence/rapid-response courses. She said the center had a single telecommunicator vacancy with a conditional offer in background, plus a small hiring list for future openings.
Deputy director Francis DeVetter and Deputy Hafner were mentioned as supervisory staff involved in training and courthouse-security coordination. Cunningham invited commissioners to arrange tours or sit-alongs at dispatch so they could observe operations directly.
