HomeMy WebLinkAboutEAC Minutes 1.23.2025.finalEast Central Communications Council (E-911) Meeting Minutes
Thursday, January 23, 2025 - 8:30 AM
Rm 300 City/County Building
Members Present: Assistant to City Manager Samantha Beckman, BPD Police Chief Michael Drake, and
County Commissioners Kelly VanderWal & Larry Jensen. Others present: BPD Lt Drew Garry & Admin
Assistant Ronda May; Brookings Fire Chief Pete Bolzer; Brookings County Sherriff Marty Stanwick & Jail
Administrator Dave Biteler; Brookings County Commission Dept Director Stacy Steffensen; and Brookings
County Emergency Management Director Bob Hill.
1. Call to Order: Commissioner Chairman Jensen called meeting to order at 8:30 AM.
2. Approval of Agenda: Motion by Commissioner VanderWal, 2nd by Chief Drake to approve agenda;
motion carried.
3. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Chief Drake, 2nd by Commissioner VanderWal to approve the minutes;
motion carried.
4. Approval of Bills: Lt Garry presented as submitted. Motion to approve bills as is by Commissioner
VanderWal, 2nd by Assistant to City Manager Beckman; motion carried.
5. Quarterly Numbers: Lt Garry presented as submitted. Problems with ECATs in November so not an
accurate representation.
6. Old Business:
A. Update on Staffing: Lt Garry – we extended last offer for Dispatcher, have 1 in-house training, and
another graduated last week.
B. Update on Plain Speak: Chief Drake brought back up. Assistant to City Manager Beckman asked
how it’s going? Lt Garry – hard to get away from the ’10 codes’ but need to get back to plain English
& hope to see it fully implemented in next 6 months.
Sherriff Stanwick doesn’t like it, what was push behind it? Talking w/911 State Board, there was talk
but went back to 10 codes. And Sioux Falls has their own. If have emergency, we’ll work with other
agencies who uses same 10 codes. Chief Drake asked if everyone uses same 10 codes? No. Sheriff
Stanwick not here to argue but Chief Drake said when you bring in other agencies, they have to
immediately begin figuring out codes & extremely hard to experience. Time of emergency is not
time to figure out codes but need simplicity for our Dispatchers. Chief’s concern is that daily, 10
codes work but when in emergency situation, the other side doesn’t know codes.
Commissioner Chairman Jensen asked if Fire Dept doing the same (Plain Speak)? Fire Chief Bolzer
said yes, doing for years. Commissioner Chairman Jensen then asked if using 911 address system
in rural fire departments? Do we put resident’s name out there? No. Commissioner VanderWal
said controlled burn name is listed. Commissioner Chairman Jensen said if use name in rural fire
departments, they would know where to go.
Chief Drake said if break down in emergency situation, we’ve created another situation & puts
peoples’ lives in danger. And, then we can’t explain to public why there was a delay. Sheriff
Stanwick disagrees & doesn’t intend to change to Plain Speak unless forced to. Chief Drake is saying
Deputies don’t have to but need to be able to speak in plain English so our backups know.
Commissioner Chairman Jensen asked what brought it up? Chief Drake said he’s seen issues with
using 10 codes & trying to avoid a dire situation. If someone can disprove this, he’s all ears. Sheriff
Stanwick disagrees as mostly use Plain Talk. Won’t get away from 10 code unless forced. Chief
Drake said Dispatch won’t use 10 code. Sheriff Stanwick asked if State teaches 10 code? Lt Garry
said no, they don’t. Chief Drake said not forcing but Dispatch will not use 10 code.
7. New Business: Brookings County Emergency Management Director Hill announced that on Feb 5 there
is First Responders training on proposed CO2 pipeline so could send a Dispatcher to it. RSVP Feb 4 by 5
PM to his office. Public can’t attend. Sheriff Stanwick said 12 from his office but Bob has 13 responded.
Fire departments, ambulances, and PD invited. Thinks would be beneficial for Dispatchers and/or
supervisors. Training will show areas involved, etc but Brookings city not included in area. Training from
6-7 PM with small meal before. Bob attended training in De Smet and beneficial.
8. Other Items & Reports: Commissioner VanderWal called Dispatch other day as controlled burn called
in but printout said Arlington, not Volga. First person who answered said “that’s the way our system is”
but call came out correct with Volga so appreciates that. Lt Garry said the 911 call maps it out but
double checked on back side. Chief Drake said it also could have been a human error.
Fire Chief Bolzer said Fire Dept had call #20 for the month this morning.
Sheriff Stanwick reported their CFS average time for response in County is 7:02 from time of call so
showing guys aren’t huddled up somewhere. Chief Drake credited BCSO on their response time and
said everyone did great job overall with downtown fire.
9. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn at 8:50 AM by Commissioner VanderWal, 2nd by Assistant to City
Manager Beckman; motion carried. April 17, 2025 is next meeting.
Submitted,
Ronda A May
Ronda May
Brookings Police Department Administrative Assistant