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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Emergency Manager Kim Franklin talked about the goals, accomplishments and the tasks ahead as Barnes County closes in on its first year of operating the Public Service Answering Point system known as PSAP.
In an interview with Steve Urness, Franklin talked about some of the tasks completed. For example, improved public safety, by developing call handling guides for all emergency situations and how the elimination of non-dispatch functions have made the 6 full-time dispatchers more efficient.
In her summary, Franklin talked about how staffing will remain a challenge. She urged the commission to think about the expansion of the dispatch center and to consider cost shares for the county and other entities that may want services in the future.
Franklin says the advisory committee and commission will remain focused on operational costs, as to how funds are expended and why. As well as discussing possible alternative funding options in the future to ensure public dollars are being spent wisely.
Far left 2011 dispatch employee cost share breakdown; 911 funds $59,000, Barnes County $81,294, Valley City $98,873. Far right 2014 breakdown; 911 funds $77,476 and Barnes County share $232,428. There is no 2013 breakdown being the dispatch center was being moved from city control to the county.
Far left graphic shows dispatch operational budget break down in 2012; Wages $181,988, Benefits $73,469, Phone company payment $16,700, Association of Counties $17,800, Training $775 and G-I-S Generator Engineering (one-time payment) $12,700.
The breakdown for 2014; Wages $230,529, Benefits $79,375, Phone company payments $20,000, Association of Counties $20,000 and training $5,000.
Franklin says the Valley City police department has made a request to Barnes County for additional support to have the police phone line answered on the weekend or after business hours. She says a cost share agreement with the city is in the discussion stage.