911 Efficiency Study Findings Should be Ready in March

Effingham County 911 Board members Tuesday heard that the efficiency study of the system should be ready in March.

The study was begun last year and the compilation work is nearing completion.  Among the items studied was whether the two dispatching points now utilized by 911 is the best number.

911 Board Public Member Norbert Soltwedel said he'd like to review the findings before the final report is shared.

The Board heard the audit of the past fiscal year's operation.  Amy Hartrich of West and Company indicated that the system received $625,027 during 2013, down $32,000 from 2012.  Hartrich said there was a $12,000 drop in revenue from cell phones, $20,000 from land lines.

911 Board member and Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy asked about starting work on requests for proposals on new consoles and phone systems for 911.  The phone system is several years old and the consoles are even older.  Holomy said whatever the findings are in the study could be incorporated into the RFPs.  

The 911 Board agreed to incorporate the Effingham County Water Authority into the STARCOM system.  The Effingham County Sheriff's Department has three radios available for use by the Water Authority.  During the off-season at the lake, two of the radios will be shut off.

911 Addressing Coordinator Tina Daniels reported she is meeting with area fire department representatives to get mutual aid included in the Spillman system that oversees how calls are received and dispatched.

The 911 Board also named Mike Depoister vice-chairman to fill a vacancy; and heard that other state agencies are again this year vying for some of 911's share of state funding.  A similar effort was beaten back last year.