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Norwich trustees approve move to Dublin dispatching and fund station alerting upgrades
Summary
After participating in a regional 911 feasibility study, Norwich Township voted to pursue discussions with Dublin and later approved a formal dispatching services agreement; the board also approved station alerting work and Westnet quotes for equipment upgrades.
Norwich Township trustees approved participation in a multijurisdictional 911 feasibility study and authorized staff to negotiate with the City of Dublin to move dispatching services, a multi-step process that culminated in a dispatching communication services agreement later in the year.
On Jan. 15, 2013, Fire Chief Bob Kaufman told trustees the LR Kimball feasibility study was moving forward and that, after applying grant money, the maximum combined grant for Hilliard and Norwich Township would be $10,000. Trustees voted to participate in the feasibility study (motion #130115.02) and then approved issuing a letter of intent to Dublin to enter discussions about dispatching (motion #130115.03). Deputy Chief Fisher and Chief Kaufman both said consolidation seemed inevitable under state timelines; Fisher and Kaufman noted a county plan that would reduce the number of PSAPs by 2018.
During planning sessions in May, the board identified Westnet station-alerting upgrades as necessary to handle the dispatch transition; trustees authorized moving forward with Westnet to obtain quotes and bid competitively, and Westnet estimated a 60–90 day install window and an approximate cost of $60,000 (motion #130509.01). Dublin representatives later appeared before the board to discuss standards and operational issues; Jay Somerfield, Bureau Director with the City of Dublin, described expected state-level standards and said Dublin did not plan equipment changes until state direction was clearer.
On Aug. 20, 2013, trustees voted to enter a Dispatching Communication Services Agreement with the City of Dublin (motion #130820.02). Meeting notes and later minutes show the operational transition proceeded and that by Oct. 1, 2013, cell and landline routing changes were in place with Dublin handling dispatching for Norwich Township.
Trustee concerns during the process focused on location accuracy and response routing: Trustee Buck said he was concerned about accurate location processing and getting vehicles where they needed to go, citing prior problems with county dispatching to his business. Trustees requested short-term contracts or reasonable terms of agreement and emphasized testing and training before a full cutover.
Next steps: the board authorized equipment procurement for station alerting and coordinated training with Dublin; the transcript records continuing technical work and interagency coordination through the autumn of 2013.
