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Sheriff: Signal switch could leave WB officers in danger
by Rick DeClue · News · May 21, 2015
Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington said, concerning the planned December switch to “P-25” digital emergency communications for law enforcement agencies throughout the county:
• the city of West Branch is going to lose coverage;
• West Branch officers may be put in danger; and
• the city should not be asked to fund approximately $252,000 on its own for a simulcast tower that would serve the southwest quarter of the county.
City Administrator Matt Muckler thanked Wethington for “straight talk” that Muckler and West Branch Mayor Mark Worrell said was lacking to this point in discussions with the county.
Speaking Monday to the West Branch City Council, Wethington showed further empathy to the city’s position by stating that, if West Branch Mayor Mark Worrell brings the issue back up for a vote at the next 911/Emergency Management Agency board meeting in July, the sheriff would likely vote “no” to throwing the switch on P-25 in December. He did, however, say that the switch would improve coverage for officers in many other parts of the county that lack consistently effective service now.
Brad Ratliff, assistant coordinator of the county’s EMA, said the county has been working on the P-25 implementation for 10 years.
Wethington said this was about the time West Branch had developed much of its own system to address the city’s low topography. He considers the city’s system the best in the county, but noted the city leaders had been told that the system would not be compatible with the developing P-25 system.
Both Wethington and Ratliff acknowledged that this warning was issued to prior city leaders, but for some reason it never got back to the council.
Worrell’s objections to the pending changeover focus on finance and fairness. He asked whether there was some middle ground so that the citizens of West Branch would not have to shoulder the full cost of the simulcast tower – a request that no other city in Cedar County faces.
Several council members led by Colton Miller, as well as Mayor of Stanwood Greg Wagner supported Worrell.
Wethington said he would like to have simulcast capabilities in all four towers outside of Tipton – located in West Branch, Mechanicsville, Durant and Clarence – to provide as much “green” coverage areas as possible in the county.
Ratliff said the cost of a full simulcast system was approximately $1,250,000.
At $252,000, West Branch is being asked to fund approximately 20 percent of the county’s total projected cost for full simulcast, with approximately 12 percent of the county’s population, Worrell said.
Wethington admitted that 911 services are run “on a shoestring.” Even the 911 surcharge of $1 per telephone per month is being eyed by state legislators as a source of funds to cover other budget items. Effectively, the money his department receives from cities in Cedar County pay for jail operations, he said. The county does not currently charge for dispatch or jail services.
Worrell said the right way to handle the communications costs was through a county-wide levy, so that the costs are spread across the county’s population.
Muckler said Johnson County has such a levy to cover its emergency communications.
Ratliff said the EMA board had looked at this possibility, even projecting rough costs per thousand population or per $1,000 of assessed property value.
He said West Branch could try asking the Cedar County Board of Supervisors.
Absent forcing West Branch to pay for the simulcast, Muckler told Ratliff and Wethington that, despite 10 years spent by the county, there is simply no plan to improve radio coverage in West Branch after the switch in December.
West Branch Police Chief Mike Horihan said he appreciates the support he receives from the Sheriff’s Department, but that even if West Branch had the funds to start acquisition and construction of a simulcast tower now, it would not be in place before in time.
Worrell and Muckler both said they had difficulty understanding the county’s priorities; in West Branch, they said, safety and protection of citizens and public safety personnel was paramount. The mayor added that West Branch makes about 20 calls per week, where some jurisdictions might make 20 calls per year.
“We want our officers and firefighters to have the best equipment. Financial considerations are secondary,” Muckler said.
Worrell added that public safety is one item that is a fairly easy to sell to voters. Citizens want to know they will be safe, he said.
Ratliff encouraged the mayor to bring his police and fire chiefs, council members, city staff and any other interested parties to the July meeting of the 911 EMA board.
“This will be the main topic of conversation,” he said.
The county has already invested $1,000,000 in its P-25 installation, he said.
All 911 and dispatch services are currently run from the Sheriff’s Department budget.
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