Commissioners, sheriff discuss 911 system upgrades

Highland County Sheriff Richard Warner spoke with Highland County Commissioners at the start of their Feb. 5 meeting, discussing the year-end report for the sheriff's office and planned updates to the 911 and dispatch systems.

Among the most significant parts of the year-end report, Warner said, were the 99 total meth lab busts for the year. Warner also pointed out that concealed carry permits increased to 1,114 in 2013, from 561 in 2012; and concealed carry permit renewals increased to 410, from 109 in 2012.

For a look at the sheriff's office year-end report, click here: http://highlandcountypress.com/main.asp?ArticleID=21421&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=73.

Warner also outlined planned updates with the office's 911 system through EmergiTech.

Commissioners said that they had already received a letter from EmergiTech regarding potential upgrades.

"They're looking at possibly next year, figuring into the budget to start that upgrade," Warner said. "The equipment we've got is 10 years old and lasts about 12 years, usually, so next year would be going on 11 years."

Warner said that the least expensive option is going to a cloud-based system.

"The good thing about a cloud-based system is we could log onto that one and actually dispatch 911 from here," Warner said. "If we move our dispatch center out to EMA, we could actually log into that cloud and continue our 911 operations."

"We're talking 911 upgrades in 2015, right?" Commission President Shane Wilkin asked.

"Yes," Warner said.

"And what's the other option?" Wilkin asked.

"The same as what we have, which is a server," Warner said.

Warner also announced that the sheriff's office applied for, and was awarded, an Office of Criminal Justice Services grant of "close to $8,000." Warner said the grant is a 10-percent match.

"What's it going to be used for?" Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer asked.

"Overtime," Warner said. "It's specific for road control."

The sheriff's office also received a grant of approximately $17,000 through the Bluegrass Pipeline Community Grant Program, and Warner gave commissioners a quote of $147,621 for radio consoles, which was what the office had outlined in their grant proposal.

Commissioners said they had been looking into radio consoles for several years.

The grant would cover the cost of two new repeaters for the consoles, Warner said.

"The grant was enough to cover the repeaters, and then our match would be the consoles?" Shaffer said.

"Yes," Warner said.

Wilkin said that he had been advised that the grant would be best used "to finish out a project."

"Is this something that we can go forward on the purchase of the consoles before the grant approval time? Because that's going to be a few months away, right?" Shaffer asked.

Warner said that once ordered, the consoles would have to be built, and that it would take approximately 90 days or more.

"So is this something we want to go ahead and order?" Shaffer asked.

Wilkin said that they had been putting money in Capital Improvements for this purchase. Wilkin consulted with Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley during the meeting, who confirmed that the purchase could be made through Capital Improvements.

"Obviously, we don't want to find ourselves in a spot where we can't dispatch," Wilkin said.

Shaffer made a motion to authorize Warner to move forward on the purchase of the consoles, which was passed, 3-0.

A meeting of the Highland County Records Commission was also held, with members Bill Fawley, Chad McConnaughey and Wilkin present.

The commission voted 3-0 to approve a schedule of records retention and disposition for the Highland County Engineer's Office.

Fawley explained the reason for the meeting.

"For people that don't know what goes on, we first have to have this RC-2 that is filled out by each department, and you list what it is you want to get rid of," Fawley said. "The chairman of the Records Commission, which is Shane, will sign it. Then it has to be signed by the [Ohio] Historical Society and then by the Auditor of State's office. That just means that they have checked with the Revised Code and Dean can get rid of these things. It's legal to dispose of them.

"Then, after we get this back signed by these agencies, then Dean will have to fill out an RC-3, which again lists this stuff. He says when he wants to dispose of it. He has to give an expected disposal date, and it has to be at least 15 days off, because we have to give the Historical Society 15 days to respond if they want any of these documents. Very seldom does that ever happen. After that 15-day gap, then Dean can dispose of these."

The retention schedule is done through the Recorder's office, McConnaughey said.

Commissioners also heard from two citizens in attendance.

Hillsboro resident Bob Lambert told commissioners that a group of Hillsboro citizens, the East End Community Group, is "going to help to enhance working with our council persons Tracy [Aranyos] and also Becky Wilkin to enhance living in the east end, which has traditionally been a lower-income neighborhood."

One of their first projects, Lambert said, is requesting the city to change the name of Baker Street, an alley between Main and Walnut Streets, to Curtis Drive.

"This was the site of the home during the Brown v. the Board of Education protest where the little house was where the black children were educated," Lambert said. "The house has been destroyed, and the one next door has been burned, so there's no residence on the street. We want to change it to Curtis Lane in honor of Imogene Curtis, who did the homeschooling there. We think it will restore a little pride in the neighborhood."

Lambert said that the group hopes to place a park bench with a commemorative plaque where the house had stood.

"We're shooting for next year, because that will be the 50th [sic] anniversary," Lambert said.

The landmark decision was handed down in May 1954.

Lambert said that he would be at the next Hillsboro City Council meeting to discuss the issue but wanted to let commissioners know "as a courtesy."

Hillsboro City Council member Tracy Aranyos also addressed commissioners regarding discussions of a cell phone tower being constructed in the Highland County Senior Center's parking lot, across the street from the center.

"Verizon contacted us about putting one on that end of town," Commissioner Tom Horst said. "We turned it over to the Senior Citizens [Center] … We don't own the lot. The Senior Center owns the lot."

Horst said that Verizon was "looking at a 75-foot square" for a cell phone tower.

Wilkin said that the Senior Center's board most recent meeting was canceled and that the issue has not come before the board yet.

"I've talked to a few people that kind of weren't in favor of it," Aranyos said. "We're trying to fix up our end of town, and I really think that would be a huge eyesore, along with other concerns people had – health issues, property value, if it's going to interfere with cable or landlines."

Horst said that he believes Verizon is considering several properties in that area of Hillsboro.

"I think this is very preliminary," Shaffer said.

In other action, commissioners approved the following resolutions, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A request from Victim Witness for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to the Victim Witness, Donations line item in the amount of $3,000.

• A request by Highland County Job and Family Services for a modification of appropriation within Children Services Special Fund in the amount of $58,026.95 and a request for reimbursement of funds from Children Services Special Fund Transfers Out to Public Assistance in the amount of $58,026.95.

• A modification from Transfers Out to Professional Services in the amount of $5,000.

Commissioners also approved Bill File 14-5 General Fund for $57,444, for a total of $191,861.39.