BESSEMER, MI - Sunday, April 27, 2008 - The Gogebic County Enhanced 911 Committee gathered Friday, April 25, 2008, at the Basement Conference Room in the Gogebic County Courthouse in Bessemer, Michigan.

Present at the meeting were: Jim Loeper, Gogebic County 911 Coordinator; Rachael Paquette, Assistant 911 Coordinator; Julie Ann Giackino, Gogebic County Administrator & Committee Secretary; Mike Peterson, Bessemer Township Representative; Paul Wallenius, Wakefield Post Commander of the Michigan State Police; Mike Hazen, Chief of Police, Lac Vieux Desert Tribal Police; Randy Forstrom, Emergency Medical Technician, Beacon Ambulance Service; Ted Finco, Wakefield Volunteer Firefighters Representative; Bob Morin, Gogebic County Commissioner; Dick Caudill, Watersmeet Township Representative; Sue Cestkowski, Gogebic County Sheriff's Department; Leroy Kangas, Chairman of the Gogebic County Commission; Ken Jacobson, Gogebic County Firefighters Representative; Bob Erspamer, Ironwood Public Safety Department Director; Bruce Mahler, Marenisco Police Department; Scott Erickson, City Manager, City of Ironwood.

Brian McEachern, Negaunee Regional Dispatch Representative, was also present at the meeting.

There were no members of the general public present and the Chronicle was the only media covering the event.

At 2:00 PM CST, 911 Coordinator Jim Loeper called the meeting to order. Roll was taken, and the minutes from the March 13, 2008 regular meeting and the March 25, 2008 special meeting were approved.

911 ASSISTANT COODINATOR

The first new business to be addressed at the meeting involved the Assistant 911 Coordinator's job, so Rachael Paquette was asked to leave the room.

Jim Loeper explained to the Committee the reason for this issue to be on the agenda. He reminded the members that Rachael was introduced as his new assistant at the March 25, 2008 Special Meeting. She has been working half days, 4 hours per day, as the 911 Assistant Coordinator. During her probationary period, she has been earning $9.52 per hour or $38.08 per day.

Loeper told the Committee that the Gogebic County Administrator's Office had a new opening for a 5 hour per day position. The County Commission had already set the pay schedule for that position at $12.66 per hour (Level Four) or $63.33 per day.

According to Loeper, Ms. Paquette has been an outstanding employee. She's conscientious and willing to "go that extra mile." Several of the Committee members commented on Rachael's work ethic. All comments regarding Ms. Paquette were favorable.

County Administrator Julie Ann Giackino and Loeper thought it would be a good idea to hire Paquette as a full-time employee. According to County rules, workers putting in 7 hours per day are considered full-time employees.

Loeper and Giackino worked out a plan where Rachael would go to work for the Administrator, and, at the same time, act as the 911 Assistant Coordinator. According to the plan, Rachael would work 5 hours per day for the Administrator and be cut back to 2 hours per day as 911 Assistant Coordinator. This move would make Ms. Paquette a full-time employee. Giackino said her computer can easily be moved upstairs and the 911 line can be truncated to the Administrator's office.

Loeper suggested that the Committee raise Rachael's 911 wage to Level Six or $12.95 per hour. He reasoned that the Committee would actually save money because Rachael would be working two hours a day instead of four. Currently, Rachael receives $38.08 per day from the Committee. With the pay raise, and reduced hours, the 911 Committee would be paying only $25.90 per day. That's a savings of roughly $12.18 in gross wages for the 911 Committee.

The plan would be a win-win situation for all parties, Loeper explained. The Administrator's office would get a top-notch employee. Rachael would be earning $89.23 per day instead of $38.08 per day – a difference of $51.15 per day. The 911 Committee would save money, while at the same time get better service. Rachael will be available to the Administrator; the Coordinator; and the general public for seven hours instead of four.

Issues were raised regarding insurance; benefits; the bookkeeping nightmare created by this joint venture; payroll logistics; workloads; setting precedents; probationary periods; and the Committee's and County's limited resources.

After a somewhat lengthy discussion, the Committee voted to increase Ms. Paquette's rate of pay to $12.95 (Level Six) but reduce her hours to two per day. After the matter was settled, Rachael was summoned back into the conference room.

BUDGET & EXPENSES

Jim Loeper then presented the Committee with a spreadsheet of Revenue and Expenditures for March 2008. He asked the members if there were any questions. The following issues were presented:

(1) Loeper was asked what was purchased for $1,688.50 under equipment. Loeper explained that the money was spent on radios, mikes, batteries and the like.

(2) Loeper was asked what "subscriptions and dues" were being paid by the Committee. Loeper explained that these were mike fees.

(3) Leroy Kangas mentioned to Loeper that the telephone costs seemed excessive. Loeper looked over the spreadsheet and told Kangas that the excessive charges were posted to the wrong account. The $3,300 charges are the monthly fees to pay for the lines to Negaunee.

(4) City Manager Scott Erickson asked the last budget question. He asked Loeper when the Committee's fiscal year began. Loeper told Erickson that January was the start of their fiscal year.

CLAIMS

Before the Committee went into closed session, Jim Loeper asked the two sitting 911 members who are also County Commissioners if the Committee's bookkeeping was acceptable to the Commission. This was in response to some comments that were apparently made at the last County Commission meeting. Evidently, according Bob Morin, too many credit card receipts that are not properly itemized are being handed in. Morin made it clear that nobody was being accused of wrongdoing, it's just that the Commission wants to see better, more accurate and complete record keeping.

Both Bob Morin and County Chairman Leroy Kangas assured Loeper that his records are well kept and up to standard.

Jim Loeper then announced that the meeting would go into closed session. A roll call vote was taken, and the press and Mr. Brian McEachern were asked to leave the room until the closed session was over.

COORIDINATOR REPORT

SURCHARGE DENIED BY MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION APPEAL

Following the closed session, Jim Loeper made the following statement for the press and the general public:

"The appeal is being filed with the Appeals Court on the Michigan Public Service Commission's (MPSC's) decision on the surcharge and we continue to work with the Association of Counties along with the telecommunications companies and the legislators to try to resolve this problem. We hope to have a hearing date sometime in June on this matter."

911 AUTHORITY

According to Jim Loeper, the 911 Authority is moving forward. Loeper told the Committee that he and Joe Van Oosterhout, Central Dispatch Manager from Marquette County, will be making a presentation, along with lower Michigan attorney Doub VanEssen, at the U.P. Association of County Commissioners Conference in May. The purpose of the presentation is to update the various Michigan counties that the 911 Authority is continuing to move forward.

CENTRAL DISPATCH COMMITTEE

There was no meeting in April due to the fact that there was a meeting in late March to go over the 911 contract, and the final solution has already been shared with everybody.

NEGAUNEE DISPATCH

Jim Loeper then introduced Brian McEachern, Negaunee Regional Dispatch Representative, who came to Friday's meeting to answer questions the Committee or the general public might have. The following are questions asked, followed by any responses given:

(1) The first question was from Bob Erspamer, Ironwood Public Safety Department's Director. He asked, "We were talking earlier about a contract, and if we weren't to have a contract – I think there's a thirty day out – what would happen after those thirty days without a contract."

"We'd probably continue doing business as usual..." McEachern started.

"Haven't you, in fact, opted out a contract already? Because you guys changed the rates on this. It was the only contract we had..." Mike Peterson interrupted.

Loeper then added that Gogebic County does have a contract with Negaunee Regional. He pointed out that Negaunee's contract is valid until January of 2009. He clarified the fact that things like a "thirty day out" can be renegotiated in a new contract.

(2) Dick Caudill, Watersmeet Township, asked the next question. "As you know Vilas County doesn't have an `easy button' like your neighbors do. We had a call yesterday and Land `O Lakes Ambulance was probably dispatched five minutes before Watersmeet's first responders were called. I'm sure the call went to Vilas, although it was in Watersmeet. But I think maybe we need some communication to Vilas to let Negaunee know..."

"Vilas does have an 800 radio!" Loeper interrupted.

"I could hear Land `O Lakes dispatched and then like four or five minutes later, then Watersmeet got dispatched. Rather than when Negaunee dispatches Watersmeet first responders, Conovers are dispatched at the same time." Caudill said, it wouldn't have made a difference on Thursday's call, but he was concerned about future time delays that could occur.

McEachern assured Caudill that he would look into the matter and have it corrected as soon as possible.

(3) The third question was asked by Bruce Mahler of the Marenisco Police Department. Mahler expressed concern about the MPSC's rejection of Gogebic County's proposed surcharge and MPSC's unrealistic suggested charge. He also stated that he was somewhat disappointed that there was no offer of support from Negaunee in the form of a price reduction.

Loeper told Mahler that Negaunee did reduce their charges to some degree as a result of losing Luce and Mackinaw Counties from their system. He explained that Negaunee fees are the result of a common baseline charge plus a service usage charge.

McEachern told the Committee that the Negaunee Regional Dispatch worked very hard in the beginning coming up with a rate system that was fair to everybody. They could either go with land lines, phone lines, or population to base their fees. They believed that charging a common baseline fee plus a service usage charge was the fairest way to bill for their services. That way, every county pays the same base fee, but those counties that use the service the most, pay the most.

Mike Peterson cautioned that the payment plan sounds good because it is a measurable commodity, but he warned there are rich counties and there are poor counties, and some poor counties get squeezed out because they cannot afford the baseline.

Loeper told the Committee that it really doesn't matter how the fees are calculated. The real issue is that Gogebic County needs to know what the bottom line charge is going to be. He criticized the Dispatch saying that they haven't moved on the bottom line amount except to say that they will reduce staff levels through attrition. Loeper told the group that by 2013 the County would be paying over $220,000 per year to Negaunee Regional Dispatch.

Loeper told the Committee that he would like to for an ad hoc committee to explore any and all options to serve the County's 911 needs. He said he feels exploring the options could only be helpful to finding a solution.

(4) Mahler asked Brian McEachern if Negaunee Dispatch set an actual rate for the service usage. McEachern pointed out that Gogebic County currently receives a subside from the State of Michigan, and that the fee schedule has been set for the next five years. He said in 2009 Gogebic County will be expected to pay 60% of actual cost for the service; in 2010 they will pay 70%; 80% in 2011 and so on, in 10% increments.

(5) Ken Jacobson asked McEachern how much the actual charges for Gogebic County currently are. Brian told Ken that Gogebic County currently pays $69,000. If Gogebic County is currently being subsidized by 50%, that would mean that the total cost for services would be $138,000.

"We're not asking Gogebic County to pay for equipment. We're not asking Gogebic County to pay for building maintenance or anything like that. We're simply asking Gogebic County to pay for the additional staff members it takes to run for the Enhanced 911 system." According to McEachern Gogebic County is paying for 1.3 staff members with their fees. If $138,000 pays for 1.3 staff members, that means that each staff member makes approximately $106,154.

McEachern reasoned that it makes sense to have regional dispatch because of the cost sharing for equipment and personnel.

(6) Bruce Mahler asked McEachern how many staffers the $225,000 Gogebic County will be paying by 2013 would pay for. According to McEachern, $225,000 would pay for 2.5 staffers (or $90,000 per worker). Mahler then asked, "What would $225,000 pay for in the Sheriff's Department? Would it pay for more than two and a half? I mean here's the question... These are the things we need to consider when we are being cut the way we're being cut by the State. These are things we really need to think about!"

McEachern told Mahler that equipment costs are extremely high. He pointed out that he just spent $40,000 in batteries.

Mahler answered back with, "I understand that, and we just spent $1,688 on batteries! We can throw numbers back and forth at each other all you want. What I am saying is, as far as I'm concerned, $225,000 for two dispatchers is insane!" Mahler believes that Gogebic County could provide the services at a much lower cost if they could find a way to purchase the equipment.

City Manager Scott Erickson explained that there are also operating expenses to consider.

Mahler stated that Gogebic County also pays $5,000 per year to a non-refundable capital improvement fund for Negaunee Dispatch. He repeated that he believes the County could do the same or even more with less.

(7) Ken Jacobson told McEachern that he was told there was a serious delay in dispatch when the Booby Hatch Bar in Bessemer burned down. Loeper reminded McEachern that he had spoken with him previously about the problem, and that one dispatcher sent the fire call to another dispatcher who failed to see it on his terminal screen, causing a two and a half minute delay. Ken Jacobson told McEachern, "That's unacceptable! Absolutely unacceptable!"

"You have to understand... Are we perfect? No! You have to keep in mind with a structure fire, especially with cell phones these days, you can have hundreds of calls to report the same fire."

Ken told Brian that it's pretty hard to fight the Negaunee Dispatch battle when things like this happen. Lives can be lost in 2.5 minutes, he explained.

McEachern told the Committee that he will monitor the situation very closely and do his best to make sure that type of thing is kept to a minimum.

In the end, the Committee unanimously approved to form an ad hoc committee to explore the options for Gogebic County for 911 service. This ad hoc committee will work together to gather information about costs; potential savings; and other options that may be possible.

Paul Wallenius cautioned that any other option more than likely would not offer seven available dispatchers at any given time. Brian McEachern pointed out that technology is insanely expensive, and cost sharing with several counties only makes sense. He praised Jim Loeper for his efforts and thanked the Committee for allowing him the opportunity to speak to them.

Before the meeting adjourned, Mike Peterson asked the Committee if the weather antenna that was previously mention was ever installed. Loeper explained that Alltel has the contract for it and that the equipment is already here, but there is no word as to when the antenna will be erected.

Loeper then asked if there were any other matters to be discussed. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to adjourn. A motion was made. It was seconded. And the meeting was adjourned.

Jim Albert