New 911 dispatchcenter draft done

By AMY MAY

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead County 911 board members have completed a plan for a consolidated emergencies services center.

After months of meetings and discussions, the board unveiled a draft plan Tuesday which would revamp the 911 dispatch center for the county.

Kalispell Fire Chief Randy Brodehl said, "I think this is going in the right direction. This is a launching pad. And we are building a rocket to get there."

The new system would centralize the independent dispatching systems of Flathead County, Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls. The organizational structure of the new center would revolve around a City-County Emergency Services Board, much like the current model for the Flathead City-County Health Department.

Under the emergency services board would be a director of emergency services and a user advisory group. Employees of the new center would be county employees, but would work under the direction of the board.

The money to fund the consolidation is one of the key issues outlined in the plan.

For advice, emergency-services officials looked to Gallatin and Lewis and Clark counties, both of which have consolidated systems. Following their examples, funding for Flathead County's center would eventually come from a permanent countywide levy.

"I think we can pass a levy in this county… in fact I know we can," said Director of Emergency Services Mike Peck, who worked with others to draft the plan.

The proposed outline noted several potential "hot spots" which may arise. Problems with funding, staffing and standardized dispatch procedures topped the list.

"These things are show stoppers if we don't get it right," Peck said.

The two centerpieces of the implementation portion of the plan is the Flathead Emergency Communication Center and a countywide Trunked/Hybrid radio communication system. Under each section are the major steps to be implemented and which committee will oversee them.

Throughout the meeting Peck and 911 board Chairman Fred Leistiko reiterated that the plan was a "living" document, meant to be revised.

"This is a road map to get things done," Peck said.

The 20 board members present Tuesday appeared ready to keep the ball rolling. The group decided to send their comments and questions regarding the plan to Peck within this month, so that by next month's meeting they will be ready to vote on it.

The board's next meeting is scheduled for July 10.

Reporter Amy May can be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at amay@dailyinterlake.com