New Moniteau County 911 system bid OK'd

CALIFORNIA, Mo. -- The 911 Emergency Dispatch Center Board of Directors unanimously approved acceptance of a bid from CenturyLink and West/Intrado for a text capable NextGen 911 system.

Several options were reviewed and discussed before the decision was made. The cost is $188,226.60. A portion of the cost has been set back each year over the last three years in anticipation of this purchase. A new system is necessary because the system now in use has reached the end of support from the software and hardware manufacturers.

Another bid accepted after review was that of Watson Dispatch Furniture for new ergonomic sit-stand consoles in the dispatch center. The Watson "Mercury" line are currently one of the only consoles designed to fit against the wall; most designs have a circular design for the middle of the room, which space would not allow at the Moniteau County dispatch center. The consoles currently in the center are original to the time it first began operations. The purchase and installation of three new consoles will amount to a total cost of $62,958.88. Up to $70,000 was approved in the 2017 budget for new consoles.

Elizabeth Althoff, a Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS) representative, presented an overview of the LAGERS retirement system to the board. The board discussed the system and unanimously approved a motion to have LAGERS perform an "actuarial study" to determine the cost of offering the program to the 911 employees. Director David Bledsoe was requested to contact other similar-sized agencies to see what retirement programs they use.

In other business, the board approved a telephone poll taken Dec 28, 2016, in which all board members voted to approve the final version of the budget. The budget was prepared by Bobby Medlin, CPA. The discussion on hiring a new medical director was tabled until the February meeting.

The director reported that the building humidifier has been installed by Millsap Mechanical and seems to be working. The center is still awaiting for bids on the truck from the 2017 state and MoDOT bids. The truck presently in use is in need of replacement of the clogged catalytic converter. The board approved the repair, estimated to cost $530. The center received 10 cell phones from US Cellular. These are to be used in disaster situations. They are set up with Wireless Priority Service. There is no charge for the phones unless they are used. Then the rate is 25 cents per minute for regular calling and 75 cents per minute for WPS calling.

The dispatch center is pleased to have received a "Job Well Done!" from CJIS and MSHP for flawless criminal history inquiries over the last couple of months.

On personnel matters, the board approved the training expense for one employee who needs to attend the Basic 40 class in Springfield Jan. 23-27. The class cost is $99, motel for the week is approximately $350. This training is required in the state of Missouri to work as a dispatcher. Also approved was to send the director and two dispatchers to the Missouri Public Safety Communications Conference (MPSCC) in Branson. The cost of the March 19-22 conference is $199 per attendee, and rooms at the conference center are $115 per night. The conference offers classes daily that provide necessary CEUs for the dispatchers.

Another important vote of the board was to make it mandatory for all newly hired employees to pass a drug test before beginning the training regimen.

According to the treasurer's report, sales tax received was $76,010.29. The MMDA account balance on Jan. 12 was $708,208.51. The CD's balance, on Dec. 31, was $236,043.15. Payroll totals were: Dec. 15, $10,282.17; Dec. 29, $11,742.73; and Jan. 12, $10,784.54. Overall payroll taxes for the pay periods totaled $11,528.37. Total accounts payable approved at the meeting was $97,722.18. This total included several annual service agreements payable in January.

The next meeting is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at the 911 office.