HomeMy WebLinkAboutE911Minutes_2011_10_20East Central Communications Council Meeting
Auxiliary Meeting Room
Thursday, October 20, 2011
8:30am
Board members present: Alan Gregg (County Commission), Deanna Santema (County
Commission), and Jackie Lanning (Acting City Manager).
Others present: Todd Struwe (Emergency Mgmt.), Jeff Miller (BPD), Darrell Hartmann (Fire
Dept), and Mark Stratton (Communications)
Members Absent: Bob Hill, Jael Thorpe (City Council), and Marty Stanwick (SO).
Call to order: Meeting was called to order by Gregg. Santema/Lanning moved to
approve the minutes of the July meeting. All present voted aye. Motion approved.
Addition to the Agenda: Contract with Sioux Falls Two Way Radio.
Bills: Jeff Miller reviewed non-recurring bills. Lanning/ Santema moved to approve non-
recurring bills. All present voted aye. Motion approved.
Old Business:
Update on narrow banding: Miller stated narrow banding has been completed with the city and
county radios and was paid. Hartman stated fire departments have yet to narrow banding, but
will occur before the 2013 deadline. Not all the radios are compatible and are waiting on the
funding to buy pagers.
Contract with Sioux Falls Two Way Radio: Miller passed out a map from Sioux Falls Two Way
on the basic coverage. When talking about the fire departments having difficulties with their
portable radios, their expectations are greater than what we can provide. Hartman stated this
has been discussed with the other departments. Part of the problem is relying on the repeater
system using a hand held radio; a 5 watt max output if batteries are fully charged and have a
good antenna. If you get in a hole it will not work. The information has been relayed that you
can’t expect a handheld to do a mobile radio transmits. Stratton stated even in the car radios,
not only with the fire departments, but also with the deputies, you get up around Bruce or
Hendricks you lose communication with them because of the holes. Miller stated our next step
would be to have Sioux Falls Two Way go to each department and conduct tests and locate the
problem areas. The question was asked if we want to try and upgrade coverage, and what plans
do we have financially to do so. Miller stated this shouldn’t fall on the E911 where we upgrade
and move towers and repeaters, which can be costly.
Hartman stated Harlen was working with Vanteck and conducted a study at the Brookings
County Firefighters Association expense. They looked at putting a new antenna, wire and new
repeater up on Oines’s (3 miles north of Brookings) where there is higher elevation to see if
we could improve coverage for a yearly rental fee. There would be upfront costs if new
equipment was installed. The study was completed but has not heard anything back. If the
tower was moved it would just create problems elsewhere. Gregg asked if the rural fire
departments are aware of this problem. Miller stated they are.
New Business:
E911 Grant: Miller will be working on getting a grant when we commence the renovation
project for the dispatch center next year. There are funds available through state E911. The
grant is based upon compliance of equipment guidelines. This grant is a 50/50 grant up to
$50,000. The renovation is part of the police department’s budget for next year, but there was
a comment made if the cost should be shared with E911 funds. Santema stated it should be
discussed with the boards. Miller stated the basic overhaul would be in securing the entrance
door, removing the alarm system, rotating the second station, and upgrading the HVAC system
(the biggest cost). The city will be looking at replacing the heating and cooling system and this
grant would help pay for a portion of it. There are no final numbers, but will have some
estimates for the January board meeting.
Member Reports
♦ Next meeting: January 19, 2012 at 8:30am
♦ Regular quarterly meetings are held in January, April, July, and October on
the 3rd Thursday of the month. Discussion of the budget is held in May.
Adjourn
Submitted by Chris Larson