The Alcona County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to enter into an agreement with Alpena County to virtually consolidate 911 dispatch services between the two counties.
The commissioners unanimously approved a memorandum of agreement to move forward. The agreement has been approved by Alcona's 911 authority board and the Alpena County Board of Commissioners.
"The resolution that they passed was just more or less to solidify the intent of both counties to continue on pursuing this virtual consolidation of our 911 centers. I'm glad they got it signed," said Tim London, emergency management coordinator for Alcona and Oscoda counties.
The two counties have been working toward a virtual consolidation after receiving the results of a completed regional 911 consolidation study.
The final results of the study conducted by RCC Consultants Inc., was accepted by the Region 7 Homeland Security Planning Board during its meeting on April 1. The study investigated the feasibility of consolidating 911 services for six counties that were divided into three pairs: Grand Traverse - Leelanau, Crawford - Roscommon and Alpena - Alcona. Each pair was exploring the possibility of their own consolidations.
The study found the cost of physical consolidation for the three county pairs was an expensive option and RCC made the recommendation to have each pair look at virtual consolidation at this time. The cost for Alpena and Alcona counties to physically consolidate their 911 centers was estimated at more than $2.5 million.
Following Wednesday's meeting, Chair Kevin Boyat said the agreement is good for the county's residents because if one 911 dispatch center has a problem, the other county continue dispatch services until the other one is restored.
"I think it's not a bad idea," he said.
London said the two counties are in the process of getting a contract signed for a technical consultant that will provide guidance on how to link the two systems. The contract will be signed between the consultant and Alpena County because Alpena is the fiduciary of the grant that's funding the consolidation.
Alpena and Alcona have to determine whether microwave radio waves, fiber optic or a combination of the two will be used for the virtual consolidation. They are looking to get everything completed within a year because the grant's deadline is in 2011, London said.
In other business:
- the board adopted a resolution proclaiming a historic site designation for Black River.
- the board approved awarding a bid for property and liability insurance to Lappan Agency.
- the board approved a budget adjustment for the parks and recreation commission.
- during public comment, Lynnette Benjamin, public health officer for District Health Department No. 2, discussed the department's long term recovery financial plan. She said the department is exploring all of its fixed costs as part of the process. For Alcona County, she has had preliminary conversations about what the department will do about its office location.
Benjamin said there is a possibility Alcona Health Center could move out of its current Harrisville location and she has had some communication with Chris Baumgardner, health center executive director, about the space. Benjamin emphasized all of this is in the discovery phase and there are several issues to consider. She had not yet taken a tour of the health center's Harrisville office.
- Commissioner Kathleen Vichunas said during her committee report that the county's recreation-master plan has been approved by the state.
- Vice Chair Carolyn Brummund said during her committee report the 911 authority board is advertising for a part-time 911 director who would work 20 hours a week.
Patty Ramus can be reached via e-mail at pramus@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.