Premier county dispatch capacity

Through the persistent and continuing efforts of the emergency response forces that protect the citizenry of Penobscot County, a major project is now under way which will greatly enhance emergency communications countywide.

A meeting was held last February which was heavily attended by representatives from all facets of the emergency response community, police, fire, EMS and the hospitals.

The overwhelming consensus from that diverse group identified ” repairing communications” as the number one priority for the use of emerging FY ’03 Homeland Security funding.

In order to streamline the process of “getting things done” at regional communications, two separate boards of governance began to meet and eventually converged into a single board which now provides oversight on such issues as finance, operation, personnel issues, etc.

Because of the many complicated issues involved in the process of “repairing communications,” the county commissioners began in earnest to invest time, effort and financial support towards a process that would insure that all stakeholders would be involved and the right expertise brought to bear. Toward that end, an outside consultant in the information technology field was hired by the county commissioners as well as a large contract let for a “top-down” assessment of the current radio system infrastructure.

After a number of meetings with a myriad of members from the various emergency services in Penobscot County, the upgrading of the existing Spillman computer CAD (computer aided dispatch) program emerged as the logical first step in what will be a multi year, multi phase project.

Many options were reviewed and the various options were balanced against available funding sources and the needs expressed by the first response personnel.

The appropriate Spillman package was selected and the County EMA was tasked to write a grant proposal to secure FY ’03 funds. Of the $422,548 designated for the County Pool in FY ’03 dollars the funding review committee voted to authorize the release of $382,313 toward the purchase of the CAD equipment.

Making the system more robust will greatly enhance the ability of the Penobscot Regional Communications Center to provide timely, accurate and more precise response information to all first responders in Penobscot County.

Several IT professionals have been hired separately by the county to support the new CAD system and a new climate controlled “home” has been developed in the county complex and awaits the arrival of the new system in early 2005.

As the reconstituted CAD system comes online and people are trained in its use, the concurrent next step in the process is ongoing.

Working in concert with other communities, the state and the folks at Maine Emergency Management, a comprehensive plan is being developed to enhance and upgrade existing voice radio communications infrastructure to include radios, towers, repeaters and all of the “nuts and bolts” that a system of this complexity involves.

FY ’04 funds are now available and it is anticipated that monies in this funding cycle will go a long way toward meeting the funding levels required for a project of this magnitude.

Partners in several of the surrounding communities which were direct funded again this year (funds above and beyond the county pool) have pledged financial support to assist in meeting the goals at hand.

Together, county and municipal officials from throughout Penobscot County, as well as police, fire, EMS and hospital venues, have chartered and supported a course destined to provide a premier dispatch capacity for both the first responders who protect us and the taxpayers requesting our assistance.

Tremendous progress is being made.

Tom Robertson is director of Penobscot County Emergency Management Agency.