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Bill No. 81 -13 ORDINANCE- �79- <br />ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS CONSORTIUM OF <br />ST. JOSEPH COUNTY <br />WHEREAS, each of four local government units in St. Joseph County operates a <br />Public Safety Answering Point ( "PSAP ") for dispatching fire, ambulance <br />and law enforcement services; <br />WHEREAS, state law requires the consolidation of PSAPs by December 31, 2014; <br />WHEREAS, while many public safety agencies in St. Joseph County communicate <br />primarily on an 800 MHz analog communication system; other public <br />safety agencies operate primarily on different radio systems hindering <br />their ability to interoperate easily with each other when needed; and <br />WHEREAS, consolidating the dispatch function and developing an interoperable <br />public safety communications system will increase the safety of <br />residents and public safety personnel of St. Joseph County; <br />NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE ORDAINED AS FOLLOWS: <br />SECTION 1. PURPOSE <br />(a) The Public Safety Communications Consortium of St. Joseph County is <br />established for the purpose of promoting the efficient use of public safety agency <br />resources through improved coordination and cooperation to enhance the safety of <br />St. Joseph County residents using a consolidated dispatch function and interoperable <br />voice and data communications system. It is comprised of St. Joseph County and the <br />municipalities of St. Joseph County that have public safety agencies. <br />(b) The Public Safety Communications Executive Board and Public Safety <br />Communications Operations Board are created to govern the Consortium. <br />SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS <br />The following definitions apply throughout this ordinance: <br />(1) "Consortium" refers to the Public Safety Communications Consortium of St. <br />Joseph County. <br />(2) "County Commissioners" refers to the St. Joseph County Board of <br />- Commissioners. <br />(3) "Consolidated dispatch center" refers to one or two centers at which the. <br />consolidated dispatch function takes place. <br />(4) ".Consolidated dispatch functions" refers to all of the functions involved with <br />operating one or two consolidated dispatch centers, as determined by the . <br />Operations. Board, including public safety call taking and dispatching of <br />appropriate public safety responders that currently are performed at the four <br />Public Safety Answering Points ( "PSAPs ") and any other function that is <br />appropriate for accomplishing the Consortium's purposes. <br />