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Fleming 911 dispatch getting new equipment, new location
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By MARLA TONCRAY, News Editor
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FLEMINGSBURG -- The Fleming County 911 Dispatch Center has received funding for the purchase of new equipment through the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and approval to move into a new location from the Fleming County Fiscal Court.
Kevin Cornette, geographic information system manager for Buffalo Trace Area Development District, presented the information to the court during its meeting Wednesday.
According to Cornette, $83,878 has been secured through a 911 equipment grant through Homeland Security; an additional $52,245 in commercial mobile radio system grant money has been secured from Homeland Security for the purchase of dispatch radio consoles and generator for emergency power back-up.
The exact items purchased under the CMRS grant will include up to two radio consoles, radio equipment, antennas, installation and radio programming, generator and generator installation.
Cornette said an evaluation of the center's existing 911 equipment was conducted in August and it was found that due to a lack of proper maintenance over the years, it was best to purchase new equipment versus repairing what was in existence. The current equipment is seven to eight years old, Cornette said.
In addition to the age of the equipment, Cornette said the geographic information system files were inadequate and needed to be upgraded.
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| The Fleming County dispatch office will move from its current location near the Fleming County Sheriff's Office to a new home on the lower level of the Fleming County annex building. Dispatcher Sharon Hickerson takes a 911 call Wednesday in the dispatch office. -- Terry Prather/Staff |
Along with the $136,123 in Homeland Security funding, the Joint Flemingsburg-Fleming County Emergency Operations Center Board will contribute $183,741 to the project from its capital improvements fund.
The funds from the board will cover expenses related to up-fitting the new space for the dispatch center, said Cornette.
The review of the equipment and the decision to apply for funding brought to light the question of where to house the dispatch center, since the current building is one of several parcels of land being considered for the new Fleming County Justice Center.
Cornette said several locations were considered, including the second floor of the former city hall building, which now houses the Flemingsburg Police Department. Other locations were the basement level of the building that housed the Fleming County Public Library and the basement offices of the Fleming County Courthouse.
Drawbacks to the three properties were the fact that the former city hall is located in a flood plain, the former library location was available for rent, which meant if the building sold the dispatch center would be forced to move and the basement offices of the courthouse have been approved for use as storage space by the county clerk's office.
Cornette said the lower level of the annex building was the best option because the space meets the needs of the center and allows for future growth of the center, up to eight dispatch personnel, over a 25-30 year period. He also said moving the 911 trunk lines is a very expensive part of the upgrade and with the proximity of the two buildings, the cost to move the lines will be less expensive and accomplished quicker.
Fleming County Attorney John Price cautioned magistrates and County Judge-Executive Larry Foxworthy to consider not only the future location of the dispatch center, but also the Fleming County Sheriff's Office, the fiscal court meeting chambers, and the county clerk's office once the new justice center is completed by the Administrative Office of the Court as part of their decision.
The move of the dispatch center to the annex building will force the court to find a temporary location for its monthly meetings, effective March 2008. Alternative locations under consideration include the second story courtroom and the Flemingsburg City Hall annex building.
Cornette said the city has indicated the court is welcome to use the building for its monthly meetings.
Following discussion, a unanimous vote approved the relocation of the 911 dispatch center to the lower level of the annex building, with the court asking the city of Flemingsburg and the AOC for permission to use their facilities for future fiscal court meetings. Also included in the motion is a request from the city of Flemingsburg to increase its annual contribution to the board by $3,000.
Cornette said the up-fitting of the building should be finished by June, 2008, and the new equipment should be installed by July, 2008; with the dispatch center fully operational by December, 2008.
Contact Marla Toncray at marla.toncray@lee.net or 606-564-9091, ext. 275. |
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