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Gaul: Plans moving along on 911 center
[07/31/08]
By Steve Sanoski
Aiming for a move-in date in late fall or early winter, the E-911 Commission on Wednesday said progress is being made to establish a new dispatch center at Clay and First North streets.
“I’ve got three different vendors I’m trying to work with to get everyone on the same page,” said Michael Gaul, director of the city-county agency. “Once we get everything coordinated, the ball is going to roll.”
Canada-based Positron has been tapped to deliver the $600,000 computer-aided dispatch system, which Gaul said is about nine weeks from being complete. Jacksonbased Mayrant and Associates has been contracted to adapt the building. A holdup, Gaul said, has been because Motorola — which will be in charge of integrating radio equipment — has yet to enter a formal agreement with the Warren County Board of Supervisors. As a result, Mayrant and Associates has not been able to install electrical master panels.
County Administrator John Smith said the board will consider the contract during a meeting Monday.
Initiated with voted approval in 1989, the consolidated emergency dispatch staff was first housed in a former break room at the county jail. More recently, since the mid-1990s, a small room beneath the steps of the Warren County Courthouse has served as the dispatch center. The new center would provide the 15 dispatchers on staff about three times the amount of work space. It will also expand the number of dispatch stations to five, compared to the four currently handling the city and county’s emergency calls. The project is estimated to cost $1.8 million, including the purchase of the former Southern Printing building, renovations and new equipment.
Various delays have hampered the effort to move the dispatch center. The board of supervisors purchased the building from the City of Vicksburg for $230,000 in March 2006 and, soon after, hired Grenada-based Jones-Zander Ltd. to draft plans for renovations. The renovations — which included removing carpet and asbestos — are nearly complete, and the dispatch stations have been moved into the building on Clay Street. The center is funded by fees on cell and wired phones, as well as by supplements from city and county general funds.
Commissioners at Wednesday’s meeting included Vicksburg Fire Chief Keith Rogers, who is chairman, and District 1 Supervisor David McDonald, Volunteer Fire Coordinator Kelly Worthy, Vicksburg Mayor Laurence Leyens, Warren County Emergency Management Director Gwen Coleman and Vicksburg Police Chief Tommy Moffett.
In other action Wednesday, the E-911 Commission:
Approved promotions for Cassie Carney and Patrick Barnes to lead dispatch positions and Wendy Staggs and Mary Bryant to shift supervisors.
Approved the hiring of Steven Cunningham.
Accepted the termination of one employee.
Adopted a resolution to re-examine the commission’s policy on dispatching wreckers to accident scenes and stalled vehicles.
“I’ve got three different vendors I’m trying to work with to get everyone on the same page,” said Michael Gaul, director of the city-county agency. “Once we get everything coordinated, the ball is going to roll.”
Canada-based Positron has been tapped to deliver the $600,000 computer-aided dispatch system, which Gaul said is about nine weeks from being complete. Jacksonbased Mayrant and Associates has been contracted to adapt the building. A holdup, Gaul said, has been because Motorola — which will be in charge of integrating radio equipment — has yet to enter a formal agreement with the Warren County Board of Supervisors. As a result, Mayrant and Associates has not been able to install electrical master panels.
County Administrator John Smith said the board will consider the contract during a meeting Monday.
Initiated with voted approval in 1989, the consolidated emergency dispatch staff was first housed in a former break room at the county jail. More recently, since the mid-1990s, a small room beneath the steps of the Warren County Courthouse has served as the dispatch center. The new center would provide the 15 dispatchers on staff about three times the amount of work space. It will also expand the number of dispatch stations to five, compared to the four currently handling the city and county’s emergency calls. The project is estimated to cost $1.8 million, including the purchase of the former Southern Printing building, renovations and new equipment.
Various delays have hampered the effort to move the dispatch center. The board of supervisors purchased the building from the City of Vicksburg for $230,000 in March 2006 and, soon after, hired Grenada-based Jones-Zander Ltd. to draft plans for renovations. The renovations — which included removing carpet and asbestos — are nearly complete, and the dispatch stations have been moved into the building on Clay Street. The center is funded by fees on cell and wired phones, as well as by supplements from city and county general funds.
Commissioners at Wednesday’s meeting included Vicksburg Fire Chief Keith Rogers, who is chairman, and District 1 Supervisor David McDonald, Volunteer Fire Coordinator Kelly Worthy, Vicksburg Mayor Laurence Leyens, Warren County Emergency Management Director Gwen Coleman and Vicksburg Police Chief Tommy Moffett.
In other action Wednesday, the E-911 Commission:
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marciewalker wrote on Sep 30, 2008 9:01 AM: