HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember2021 E911 MinutesEAST CENTRAL REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL
E911 MEETING
Tuesday, November 16, 2021; 1:00 p.m.
City & County Government Center Room 300 (3rd Floor)
Board members present: Angela Boersma (County Commission), Jacob Meshke
(Assistant City Manager), and Larry Jensen (County Commission).
Others present: Dave Erickson (BPD), Pete Bolzer (Fire Dept.), JoLynn Longville
(Communications), Marty Stanwick (SO), Bob Hill (County Emergency
Management/Zoning), and Stacy Steffensen (Commission Dept. Director).
Members Absent: Paul Briseno (City Manager)
Call to order: Meeting was called to order by Jensen. Boersma/ Meshke moved to
approve the minutes of the June 2021 meeting. All present voted aye. Motion
approved.
Bills: Erickson reviewed non-recurring bills from May 2021 through October 2021.
Boersma / Erickson moved to approve non-recurring bills. All present voted aye.
Motion approved.
Quarterly Numbers: Longville provided an overview of the quarterly numbers.
Boersma would like numbers on Mental Health calls.
Old Business:
Discussion on minimum staffing requirements:
D. Erickson discussed at the last meeting when having shortages and got authorization
from this group to operate with 1 dispatcher during the hours of 3am – 7am Sunday
through Thursday until September. That time period has expired. D. Erickson is
requesting is the ability to make the temporary decision to operate under the minimums
when needed until dispatch is fully staffed. A. Boersma would like the other agencies
informed when this happens. J. Meshke asked how many dispatchers it would take to
have 2 dispatchers on 24/7. J. Longville stated the additional 3 new positions in 2022
will allow for 2 person coverage. J. Meshke/A. Boersma suggested if we are under
12 FTE’s D. Erickson has the authority to operate under the minimum staffing
levels until fully staffed, with appropriate notification provided to other agencies.
All present voted aye. Motion approved.
A. Boersma/ J. Meshke made a motion to hire a second dispatcher prior to the
January start date. J. Meshke stated contingent on staying within the 2021
budget.
Discussion on monthly Siren Test:
D. Erickson stated the monthly siren test in the winter months comes with excess costs:
parts freeze and cause issues with the control boards. The vendor is recommending to
refrain from testing the sirens in the winter months: December, January, and February.
B. Hill suggested to talk with the city attorney. S. Steffenson suggested to wait and see
what the weather forecast is on those days. If it’s too cold dispatch would put it out to
the public that due to the cold temperatures the monthly test will not be conducted A.
Boersma questioned at what temperature would be the threshold. D. Erickson said the
vendor stated freezing (32 degrees F). B. hill suggested asking the city attorney about
liability. A. Boersma/D. Erickson made a motion, if the city attorney agrees, for
December and January months to operate as a pilot test on weather-prevented
siren testing before making it a procede. All present voted aye. Motion approved.
Discussion on Policy and Procedure for responding to welfare checks and mental health
calls: A. Boersma would like to have mental health calls tracked from any agency that
responds to mental health calls. J. Longville stated she will start tracking mental health
numbers.
Information on settlement funds from the state:
D. Erickson went over the $129,747.50, settlement awarded from the state and how the
money will be spent: Desks - $67,501.20; Monitors - $3,839.76; Radio bases &
Handheld radio - $32,717.14; Project Simulator - $20,000; Black Box System -
$1,672.16; Mobile Command Center - $2,504; and File Cabinet and Lockers - $1523.43.
New Business:
Flyover agreement: S. Steffensen mentioned the close of the 3-year partners contract
regarding flyovers. Partners include: City, County, E911, and BMU. The next one is
scheduled for 2024. This contract needs to be signed in January. Will E911 continue to
be a partner?
Member reports:
♦ Next meeting: Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 8:30 AM.
♦ Regular quarterly meetings are held in January, April, July, and October on the
third Thursday of the month. Budget discussion is held in May.
Adjourn
Submitted by Chris Larson