1993-01-19 Work Session
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MINUTES OF COMMUNICATIONS WORK SESSION
JANUARY 19, 1993
PAGE 295
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Work
Session on Monday, January 19, 1993, at 1:30 P.M. in Room 501 of
the New Hanover County Administration Building, 320 Chestnut
Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, to discuss the County's future
Communications Plan.
Members present were: Commissioners Sandra Barone; William A.
Caster; William E. Sisson, Jr.; Vice-Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr.;
Chairman Robert G. Greer; County Manager, Allen O'Neal; and Clerk
to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell.
Chairman Greer called the Work Session to order and welcomed
all members of the Sheriff's Department and Communications Task
Force.
PRESENTATION OF COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
The following Communications Plan was presented:
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Approved by the Board of County
Commissioners on December 21, 1992.
objectives of the System:
Depopulate the Jail by providing a complete information loop
between all involved agencies (the Jail, Prosecutor, and
Magistrate) .
Connect to the Office of the Courts system so that state-wide
information will be available to the County.
The Criminal Justice System will be implemented by mid-year.
The system will be funded by a State Grant and Federal
Forfeiture funds. No County funds are required.
Additional functions can be added to the system at a later
date.
Sheriff Joe McQueen commented on the importance of expediting
the flow of prisoners through the Judicial System in order to
decrease the jail population and stated this system will save a
tremendous amount of time in processing cases as well as providing
composite sketches of suspects. Appreciation was expressed to the
County Commissioners for authorizing approval of the system.
COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH (CAD)
Obiectives of the System:
Decrease response time of the County Emergency Agencies.
Provide graphical representation of an Emergency Call and its
Emergency Responder.
Provide Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) and Pre-Arrival
Instructions (PAl).
Financial Estimates for the CAD System:
Recommended Funding Source - 911 Surcharge: The 'estimated
balance of this fund by June 30, 1993, is $476,848. The 911
revenue generated monthly is $36,000.
Capital costs estimated to approach $1,000,000.
Annual operating cost of $180,000.
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MINUTES OF COMMUNICATIONS WORK SESSION
JANUARY 19, 1993
PAGE 296
A lengthy discussion was held on the Computer Aided Dispatch
System with reference to funding and the cost of operation.
Discussion was also held on the immediate need for the system and
the amount of funds available for purchase of the equipment from
the 911 surcharge.
captain L. P. Hayes, Commander of the Communications Division,
commented on the capabilities provided by CAD to the 911
dispatchers and stated this new technology will reduce the response
time of all Emergency Services by providing a mapping of the
emergency location. Emphasis was placed on the importance of
saving lives and the need to update the present equipment.
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CENTRALIZED 911 DISPATCH OPERATION: This concept was approved
by the Board of County Commissioners in December 1991.
Ob;ectives of Operation:
All County communications will pass through the E-911 Center
whether emergency or non-emergency.
A centralized system should yield staff efficiencies to the
municipalities.
A centralized system will provide consistency of service
delivery to the citizens.
Fundinq options:
911 Surcharge Funds.
General Fund Revenue.
Cost estimates are being developed.
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A lengthy discussion was held on the estimated cost of a
Centralized 911 Dispatch Operations and the availability of funds.
Mr. Fred Worsh commented on the many advantages of a Centralized
System, not only to the County, but to the municipalities.
Emphasis was placed on the need to improve county-wide
communications for emergency situations.
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS (800 MHz)
Benefits and Ob;ectives of the System:
Security.
programmqple Lock-out.
Man-Down Button.
Trunking Efficiencies.
Emergency Re-allocation of Equipment.
Description of the System:
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Computer-based Technology.
The major benefit to the County is a better talk path
utilization.
User defined features.
Phased Implementation strateqy:
Volunteer Fire Departments.
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MINUTES OF COMMUNICATIONS WORK SESSION
JANUARY 19, 1993
PAGE 297
other Emergency Services.
Non-Emergency Services.
Estimated Costs of the system for County-wide Installation:
Fixed Equipment
$ 800,000
Mobile Equipment for VFD
302,000
Mobile Equipment for County
Total Capital Cost
1. 600.000
$2.702.000
Staff Support Person - $50,000 per year.
Fundinq:
Funding will be shared by the General Fund and Fire Service
Fund.
Future costs may be funded by future users.
Phase I - Volunteer Fire Departments:
Vendor Proposal 12/"16/92
$ 680,000
Battery Back-Up
20,000
Contingency
100,000
Tower Construction
250,000
Controller Upgrade
50.000
$1.100.000
Total Cost for Phase I
Cost Distribution for Phase I:
Equipment
Tower
Fixed Equipment
Radio Equipment
Total (unbudgeted)
General Fund
$250,000
50,000
-0 -
$300.000
Fire
Service Fund
$ -0-
500,000
300.000
$800.000
A lengthy discussion was held on the entire plan and the
availabili ty of funds for implementation of the entire
Communications Plan. It was generally agreed that a communications
system of this type would be most beneficial to the County and
municipali ties; however, funding is the issue of concern. with the
upcoming budget and the many demands on the County, this will have
to be considered along with many other items.
Chairman Greer expressed appreciation to the members of the
Communications Task Force, Sheriff, and Staff for an excellent job
in preparing the Communications Plan.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:01 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
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LUCle F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board
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