Lisa Burdine, Mansfield’s Dispatch Supervisor, met with County Commissioners Gary Utt, Tim Wert and Ed Olson Thursday morning to discuss needs in 9-1-1 emergency equipment. The current equipment being used was described as being at it’s ‘end of life.’
The radios currently being used to dispatch police vehicles, fire engines and Emergency Medical Technicians were first installed in 1989. With a new digital age dawning. These systems are becoming more and more obsolete. Therefore, a new digital radio system is being requested by Burdine.
She is also requesting an upgrade on console furniture. “We are in dire need of an upgrade on everything,” Burdine stated to the commissioners.
Along with Burdine was Nancy C. Serafino, Service Manager and Sales Engineer for Century Link, a company that integrates software that is digitally up to date. It is also compatibe and capable of adapting to Next Generation 9-1-1, NG9-1-1 for short. NG9-1-1 aims in updating the 9-1-1 service process by utilizing digital technology. The initiative started in 2003, and now has defined 9-1-1 service for four states and in parts of Canada.
“Century Link has designed this system to be IP ready and next gen [generation] capable,” said Serafino.
The equipment is due for an update in December 2015. It could take up to three months to order and install the new software and hardware equipment. The system is currently projected to cost an estimated $350,000.
However, the cost can be “shared” with the city according to Serafino.
What this is called is a virtual consolidation, as opposed to a physical consolidation. This allows for the county and city officers, both belonging to separate entities, to virtually share the system. Because the system is digital, this becomes possible, thus creating a more feasible financial obligation and doubly beneficial opportunity for both the county and the city of Mansfield.
The city of Mansfield, however, is currently in a fiscal emergency.
“We don’t know what the city is [financially] capable of doing,” said Olson. “We need to have a meeting to know the mindset of the city.”
Going forward, the commissioners plan on meeting with the city of Mansfied to discuss a virtual consolidation agreement and commitment in regards to a new 9-1-1 emergency system with Century Link.
“We are in dire need of an upgrade on everything,” Lisa Burdine stated to the commissioners.
