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City asks E911 to wait; E911 asks city to wait
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · April 16, 2015
City representatives last week asked the Emergency 911 board to delay switching police to a new radio system, and the E911 board asked them to wait for an answer.
The city also asked for help paying for a $250,000 system to handle the new P25 digital signals, arguing that they need the simulcast/repeater system to 1. Maintain signals to Johnson and Cedar counties and 2. Not lose contact inside steel structures or other buildings that interfere with weak signals.
Mayor Mark Worrell and Police Chief Mike Horihan repeatedly noted that the improved system will benefit any emergency personnel in range of the simulcast/repeater system, like sheriff’s deputies.
Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington, who was appointed the new chairman of the E911 board that same night, agreed. So did E911 Coordinator Tim Malott.
Yet both Wethington and Malott said the E911 board worked for years to prepare for this changeover, set to take place in December, and West Branch should have known.
“West Branch came to the meeting and the West Branch guy said ‘We’ll bear the cost when it all happens,’” Malott said, though he conceded, “That was three mayors ago and two police chiefs ago.”
Wethington said it appeared that whomever attended the E911 meetings for West Branch did not pass along the information to the city administrator or city council, “but we’ve been working on this for five years.”
Worrell said he understood, but reiterated that West Branch would like more time.
“What’s the hurry,” Worrell asked.
West Branch City Administrator Matt Muckler on March 13 sent e-mails to the E911 board in advance of the meeting, summarizing the city’s concerns, including the hope for a “county-wide funding source.”
In response, Malott prepared some information which he shared when the group met on possible funding, like a $35,000 annual fee per department. For example, cities that operate a police department, fire department and ambulance service would pay $105,000 a year, he said.
“Let’s take our time and get the system in place,” Worrell said. “We need to throw money at this ... What’s a life worth?”
West Branch is located in a low area in the county and Interstate 80 significantly adds to the call volume, though mostly to its fire department. West Branch police are equipped with some P25 radios, but not a digital repeater to carry the signals necessary to maintain constant contact with dispatchers. Worrell said the city is willing to pay for its internal upgrades, which also could cost up to $250,000.
The E911 board tabled the discussion to allow more time to research the issue. Wethington asked Malott to prepare “a breakdown” of what the E911 fee would mean to every community in the county. Worrell asked what it would cost to cover the entire county with simulcast/repeater communications.
The board’s next meeting is 6:30 p.m. July 9, but members said they would be open to meeting earlier.
When the E911 board reached the West Branch question on the agenda, Worrell made the motion to delay the December 2015 switch, but there was a pause before he could get a member to second the motion to allow discussion. Stanwood Mayor Greg Wagner eventually seconded the motion when it was clarified it would only allow the board to talk about it, and that the board was not voting yet.
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