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Emergency Dispatch Center Temporarily Goes Down to One Console

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HUNTINGDON (October 22) — Carroll County Emergency Dispatch Center was temporarily operating on a single dispatch console and a single portable radio after a portion of the aged dispatch system malfunctioned. Fortunately, neighboring Madison County had a spare part to loan to Carroll County to temporarily get the second radio consoles fully operational.  Kristy Meggs, 911 director, said the dated system is on “borrowed time.”

Sheriff Andy Dickson, chairman of the Carroll County Emergency 911 Communication District (911 Board) told his fellow members the antiquated system temporarily failed, leaving one fully operational dispatch position and a second dispatcher on a handheld portable radio as a backup.

The sheriff said the dispatchers and their equipment were relocated to a new emergency dispatch center on the campus of the Sheriff’s Department approximately two years ago. Prior to the move, technicians warned the old system might not survive the move, but it did. Now, the system is on borrowed time leaving the county with the necessity to replace the entire system. 

The 911 center dispatches for emergency services throughout the county. Backup dispatch centers at McKenzie and Huntingdon police departments also have consoles but not the full range of frequencies for every emergency department within the county. If needed, those two centers could only dispatch for a portion of the emergency services in the county.

“I told the mayor (Joseph Butler) that I’ve got to have a console.” said Dickson.

B&E Electronics presented bids for two configurations of equipment. The first bid was $80,325 plus $9,600 installation for a two-console basic system. The second bid was $131,378 plus $13,400 for three consoles with “all the bells and whistles.” 

After discussing the limitations of the smaller system, the board voted to gift the County of Carroll $100,000 through an “impact payment” toward the purchase of the better system.  Sheriff Andy Dickson said he would adjust his Drug Fund budget and other items in his department’s budget to add $50,000. The motion was made by Carroll County Fire Chief Terry Bradshaw and approved unanimously.

The county of Carroll will seek competitive bids for the equipment. 

In other business, the board voted to lower the asking price for its former, vacant dispatch center located at 126 West Paris Street, Huntingdon. It was listed at $186,000. The new asking price is $145,000.

Kristy Meggs said the ongoing expenditures include insurance and utilities. Air conditioning was used to control humidity in the building. 

Meggs said the Text to 911 system is ready and waiting for AT&T to implement the system in the county. It will allow a person to text 911 and a dispatcher to answer the call through a return text. The system will allow persons in the service area to text 911 to receive emergency assistance. It is especially useful persons unable to speak or in a situation in which making an audible 911 call might place them in additional danger.

Danny Brawner has requested to not be reappointed when his term of office expires next month. Max Anderson was approved to be a cosigner on checks in Brawner’s place.

The board approved to continue using a FirstNet cellular phone in the dispatch center. FirstNet is available to first responder personnel. The AT&T-based system allows first responders priority access to cell towers over other callers. Many times in a mass emergency situation, cell towers are quickly overloaded with cell traffic. 

Sheriff Dickson said the bombing during the Boston Marathon proved a FirstNet-type system was needed. The cost of $40 per phone.  Dickson said his department’s personnel are planning to switch to FirstNet instead of Verizon. 

Emergency, Dispatch