HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-15 Health and Public Safety HEALTH & PUBLIC SAFETY AUGUST 10,2015 4:05 PM
Committee Members Present: Derek Dieter, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Karen White,Valerie Schey(XAB)
Citizen Members Present: Bob Emery
Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Henry Davis, Dr. David Varner, Oliver Davis,
Gavin Ferlic
Others Present: Todd Geer
Agenda: Update on the 911 Call Center(PSAP)
Derek Dieter, Chair of the Health & Public Safety Committee called the hearing to order noting all were
present with the exception of Valerie Schey who had an excused absence.
Derek called the meeting to get an update for the Council on the progress of the new consolidated 911
Call Center.
It should be noted the agreement among city and county legislative bodies and emergency public safety
departments county-wide to consolidate all dispatch centers into no more than two call centers was a
requirement of state law. In St.Joseph County the decision was to consolidate all police and fire
dispatch into one new center and use South Bend's call center as an emergency backup. The new
facility would be under the jurisdiction of county government. All city employed dispatchers would
become county employees.
Todd Geer who was hired by the County to get the new facility up and running was asked to give a
progress report.
Todd began by saying the new facility should be fully operational by December 8`h. He admitted to
"bumps in the road" in terms of originally projected costs, protocol, and timetables. This promoted a
flurry of Council questions all directed at how and why of the consolidation process.
The litany of questions and what was universally seen as inadequate or incomplete answers from Todd
left the Council frustrated and concerned.
After nearly 30 minutes of questions and answers the Council members felt another report needed to be
heard at a special,yet to be determined, Health & Public Safety committee meeting.
Derek Dieter adjourned the meeting at 4:36 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
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De i eter, airperson
Health & Public Safety Committee
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