Up to $1 million will be invested to replace the county’s entire emergency 911 system over the next year.
Due largely to long-term planning, the expense should not become a heavy financial burden on taxpayers, said Todd Noblitt, Bartholomew County Emergency Operations 911 Center director.
Replacement of current radio and telephone systems, as well as sophisticated computer equipment, has always been inevitable, Noblitt said.
Most equipment now in place was built in 2007, with some items still in use already past their anticipated eight- to 10-year lifespan, he said.
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When the city and county jointly entered into an eight-year agreement with AT&T to install and maintain the current system in 2009, local officials were aware that technical support and replacement parts would not be available after 12 years, Noblitt said.
Both governmental units set aside funds in anticipation of the upcoming system replacement, as well as to pay for operational expenses, he said.
Another income source for the emergency operations center has been the Indiana Statewide 911 Board, which provides $975,000 annually, Noblitt said. That board gets its revenue from user fee surcharges paid by wireless and traditional phone users throughout the state.
While details are sketchy, there may be an opportunity to receive a grant through the statewide 911 board late this year to fund a portion of the upgrade, he said.
In this year’s budget, the Bartholomew County Council set aside $6,000 to hire consultant Barry Ritter of Hagerstown, who will assist the emergency operations center in the upcoming upgrade.
Ritter served as executive director of the statewide 911 board until his retirement in May 2017. He was succeeded by Ed Reuter of Columbus, who previously held Noblitt’s position.
Long aware of Ritter’s reputation and expertise regarding 911 systems, Bartholomew County commissioners chairman Larry Kleinhenz described the $6,000 consulting contract as a bargain.
Based on preliminary research, there’s a chance the new equipment could cost as little as $800,000, which is less than what was paid in 2009 for the current system, Noblitt said.
But the emergency operations director emphasized that low cost cannot be the top priority in obtaining a system crucial in the saving of lives.
From law enforcement to fire departments, about 20 emergency agencies receive their calls through the center, located at 131 S. Cherry St. On average, local dispatchers handle 105 emergency calls each day, Noblitt said.
“We’ve just got to ensure everything is always working appropriately and efficiently,” Noblitt said.
County commissioner Carl Lienhoop concurs, describing the 911 equipment as the backbone of all emergency response.
Both Noblitt and Ritter will continue looking into different options over the next three to four months, and when their choices have been made, they will ask both the city and county councils for approval, Noblitt said.
At that time, both councils will determine whether they will pay for the upgrade in a lump sum or continue making installment payments, he said. The current system was paid for in quarterly installments stretched over an eight-year period, Noblitt said.
Once the councils make their decisions, final plans will be firmed up before a six-month period of installation and staff training gets underway, he said.
If all goes according to plan, the new emergency 911 system should be fully operational by the second or third quarter of 2019, Noblitt said.
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The following agencies are dispatched through the Bartholomew County Emergency Operations 911 Center.
Law Enforcement
- Columbus Police Department
- Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department
- Hope Police Department
- Clifford Town Marshal
- Hartsville Town Marshal
- Elizabethtown Town Marshal
- Indiana Department of Conservation Officers
Fire Departments
- Columbus City
- Columbus Township
- German Township
- Hope
- Clifford
- Harrison Township
- Clay Township
- Elizabethtown
- Southwest
- Jonesville
- Hartsville
EMS
- Columbus Regional Hospital
The center also answers all calls for Bartholomew County Animal Control. The calls are then forwarded to the animal control officer for action.
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