Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the 911 Center topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
911 center reports hires, overtime reductions and potential $2–2.5M infrastructure savings; commissioners request building assessment
Summary
Lieutenant Jeff Allen reported recent hires and training at the 911 center, a plan to hire three dispatchers in June despite nine vacancies, reductions in overtime, expected 35% summer call‑volume increase, and proposed infrastructure savings of roughly $2–2.5 million; commissioners asked for a building condition report and cost estimates for remodel versus replacement.
Lieutenant Jeff Allen updated the board on the county 911 center’s staffing, operations and capital needs. He said the center has hired eight people in the last year and expects two more trainees to graduate soon, reducing overtime from about 20 hours per dispatcher weekly to roughly 15 hours now. Allen said the center will begin a new hiring cycle June 1 but plans to hire only three people despite nine vacancies to allow for training capacity and supervisory bandwidth.
Allen warned that the center is preparing for a seasonal increase in call volume and expects about a 35% rise over the next three months. He described ongoing work to improve interoperability with surrounding agencies and said the center is exploring technology options and vendor proposals that could reduce infrastructure costs. Allen reported a draft proposal that could save “just over a million dollars” on needed infrastructure purchases and ongoing negotiations with AT&T for up to about $1.5 million off current service costs — combining to an estimated $2–2.5 million in savings on future infrastructure spending.
The board discussed the condition of the existing 911 building and the potential costs of rehabilitation versus constructing a new center. Commissioners asked Allen for written assessments: at least one or two building evaluations to estimate rehabilitation costs and potential resale value if the county pursued new construction. Allen said the building shows issues, and staff will prepare a report to inform any decision; the building’s taxable value was cited on the GIS site at about $1.5 million and a preliminary rehab estimate was discussed at roughly $8.5 million, though commissioners cautioned such figures can rise when projects are more fully scoped.
Next steps: Allen will provide requested building condition assessments and detailed cost estimates so the board can compare rehabilitation versus new construction, and staff will continue work on technology proposals and vendor negotiations.
