Barry Central Dispatch 911 now has an updated service plan and, for the first time, enforcement capability. County Commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved the plan, technically called the Barry County Emergency Telephone Service District Plan and the Emergency Service Ordinance.
The last update to its service plan in 2009 mandated an updating every seven years, Central Dispatch 911 Director Phyllis Fuller said. A committee, formed more than a year ago, found deficits in several areas and worked to develop the update, tailoring a model plan from the state to fit Barry County.
Areas addressed in the update include:
*technical considerations of service suppliers and system equipment.
*how 911 calls and texts would be processed, dispatch functions performed and information systems used.
*consideration of projected recurring and non-recurring costs, with a financial plan to implement and operate the system.
Benefits include using a three digit number for all emergencies, automatic number and location identification for mobile or wireless technology, systems designed to put the community in the best position to implement and maintain an up-to-date system, recruiting and training qualified telecommunicators, or dispatchers, and a centralized, consolidated dispatch for more efficiency, and to effectively serve all county residents and facilitate the transition from a wire-based system to Next Generation 911 (NG911).
The NG911 system will enhance 911 to create a faster, more flexible, resilient and sealable system allowing 911 to keep up with communication technology used by the public; it is an Internet Protocol-based system allowing digital information, voice, photos, videos and text message to flow seamlessly from the public through the 911 network and on to emergency responders.
The new ordinance allows Central Dispatch to seek charges against filing false fire alarms or reports, swatting, hacking, signal jamming, dispatch call jumping, prevention of unauthorized ambulance services, and compelling all communication services to direct 911 calls from within the county to the chosen service provider to facilitate the delivery of NG911 services.
The Central Dispatch board or director will work with the sheriff’s office and prosecutor on possible criminal action.//
Also on Dec. 27, commissioners approved:
* a contract with Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) for services to Barry County residents for 2017.
* a three-year renewal of a Veterans Affairs Services agreement with the Barry County United Way to provide services to Barry County veterans.
* a year end budget amendment (D-16) showing the total budget remain balanced at $15,790,653. Revenues increased by $207,208, departmental expense increased by $9,982. The remaining $197,226 goes into contingency.
* allowing auditors to determine during the 2016 budget year audits the amounts to transfer from the general fund to Special Revenue programs for the courts.
* putting 2016 surplus finds into the Building
Rehabilitation Fund and Retirement Fund (which will go to the Municipal Employees Retirement System to reduce the unfunded accrued liability for pensions).
