Summary of 911 board decisions spanning months reveals personnel changes
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Jackie Parker was hired as full time dispatcher for Central Dispatch for Emergency Services of Daviess County (911) during the regular monthly meeting of Daviess County Central Dispatch held Jan. 23 at the courthouse. The final budget for 2003 was also accepted.
Board member John Sullenger stated that he had visited with Daniel Lynn about working on the road signs.
Karen Lawson will be going to Teller Communications Training the last week of February. Tammy Jones and Kathy Turner will be going to Law Enforcement School on Feb. 20-21.
Bids for the recorder will be returned by Feb. 12.
It was agreed that Daniel Skinner would be the third person available to sign check.
Larry Belshe reported that the January meeting would be his final meeting as secretary for 9-1-1.
Bills were paid as presented and a bank balance of $83,586.77 was reported.
Members present at the regular meeting of the Daviess County Central Dispatch (9-1-1) held Jan. 23 were Barren Gann, Misse Tolen, Daniel Skinner, John Sullenger, Larry Belshe, Dana Carder and visitor Gene Schweizer.
Editor’s note: The following summarizes several months of meeting minutes recently provided by the Board of Central Dispatch for Emergency Services of Daviess County (911) by this newspaper’s request. The 911 board did not hold its regular meeting on July 25, 2002, as the opinion requested from the Attorney General was not yet received at that time. The summary that follows is organized by topic rather than a posting by meeting calendar date.
Last fall the Daviess County Central Emergency Communications (9-1-1) Board heard a presentation and discussion from Ernie Miller and Michelle Blakely of Midwest Mobile Radio regarding installing additional radio towers in Pattonsburg and Lock Springs to aid in radio reception.
After doing preliminary research on the feasibility of the towers, Mr. Miller reported to the board that the cost of the towers, or repeaters, was estimated at $10,000 per site, not including license fees of $90 to $100. Midwest Mobile will start the license procedures under the present contract.
The board visited with each of the dispatchers to hear their comments.
Among issues the dispatchers discussed were: input on the purchase of new equipment; lack of space; questions about sick leave; a retirement program; problems with accounting for paychecks; a policy for calling in when sick; and a more regular system for dispatcher’s to receive their work schedules and paychecks.
In addition, the dispatchers felt they needed more training; suggested they meet once a month; and asked that part-time employees work when their schedule permitted.
The dispatchers asked the board to look into supervisor guidelines and the work done for the sheriff’s department, which on average takes up about 75% of the dispatcher’s time. Sheriff deputies call in to see what is going on when they are not on duty. A board member raised concerns that deputy’s children were being left with the 911 dispatcher when an officer is called out.
The dispatchers felt a better working environment needed to be built between the dispatchers and deputies. The board agreed to discuss the situation with the sheriff’s office.
The dispatchers felt more help was needed, especially on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m.
After hearing the dispatcher’s comments, the board decided to hold several meetings to try to follow-through on some of their recommendations.
A committee was appointed to review the supervisor’s job description. A list of guidelines for the supervisors was created. After a lengthy discussion and some modifications, the board felt improvement had been made.
The board discussed applicants for the dispatcher position.
The dispatchers received uniform shirts with name tags. Three dispatchers were scheduled to be sent to Kansas City for a new type of training at a cost of $99 per person. An agreement was signed with Marc911 Regional Training Academy for Jan. 1, 2003, to Dec. 31, 2003.
In financial matters, the security bond for treasurer was renewed at a cost of $642.50.
No citizens were present during the Tax Levy Hearing. The board agreed to stay at the present levy.
There was discussion of a bill from Geo-Comm for repairs. Supervisor Carder took the bill to the insurance company for review.
Farmer’s Bank will be the Bank of Record concerning the Certificate of Designator of Depositories for the board.
There was $83,358.82 in the 9-1-1 checking account balance as of Dec. 20.
Miscellaneous items on the agenda included a surge protector installed on the map computer.
The board accepted the current Southwestern Bell.
Discussion was brought up of some 9-1-1 calls in Jamesport area being erroneously routed to Grundy County. Supervisor Carder was instructed to check with phone companies to correct the MSAG ranges within the county. Cities are responsible for their own MSAG range corrections.
The board discussed signs and concluded that more were needed. (32-B) John Sullenger will visit with Daniel Lynn about putting up 9-1-1 signs.
The board will purchase 200 copies of 24″ by 24″ county maps from Marceline Mapping at a cost of $1.75 each.
The board agreed to refund Lock Springs for repair on three pagers that had incorrect tone.
The pagers for all participating entities will be tested one night a week.
Supervisor Carder is to write to the fire departments of the county instructing them to go to the Fire Mutual Aid Channel when they arrive at the scene.
In personnel matters, in June, board chairman Larry Tull questioned the eligibility of Misse Tolen on the board since she no longer lived in the section that she was elected to serve. However, in the meeting held in August it was reported that it was the final opinion of the prosecuting attorney that it would be in compliance with state statutes for Mrs. Tolen to finish out her term.
A special meeting was held on Sept. 12 during which the board was given documents on an occurrence that was observed happening in the office of Central Dispatch. Discussion followed.
After returning from closed session, the board voted to terminate employment of Linda Tarepin effective Sept. 12, 2002.
At the Sept. 26 regular meeting, the board agreed to send Larry Tull a letter, since he had missed five meetings. Mr. Tull could appear to explain why he had missed. On Oct. 24, Chairperson Larry Tull was removed from office after missing five consecutive meetings without good cause.
During the Nov. 21 meeting, the board discussed and listened to the tape of activities of Nov. 11 and Nov. 17. The board came to an agreement about the incident, and also agreed to send Mr. Tull a letter notifying him of their findings.
At the Dec. 20 meeting, the board passed a motion from Misse Tolen that a copy of the five notarized statements (one from a county official, one from a county employee, one from a 9-1-1 employee, and two from non-associated individuals) that were presented to the 9-1-1 Board, and presently in the possession of Larry Belshe, concerning inappropriate contact between the former 9-1-1 Chairman (who has been subsequently removed from office pursuant to RSMO 190.339.6) and a former employee be returned to the 9-1-1 office to be placed in a safety deposit box at Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri in a file for future reference should litigation concerning this incident occur. Larry Belshe, John Sullenger and Dana Carder’s names will be on the safety deposit box.
At this time, the dispatchers for 9-1-1 are Dana Carter, Tammy Jones, Chris Wascher, Karen Lawson, Jackie Parker and Kathy Turner.
Board members for 9-1-1 are Larry Belshe, Barron Gann, John Sullenger, Troy Souders, Misse Tolen, Daniel Skinner and Dana Carder.