BESSEMER, MI - Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - The Gogebic County Enhanced 911 Committee met yesterday at 1:00 PM in the Basement Conference Room of the Gogebic County Court House in Bessemer. Members in attendance included: Committee Coordinator Jim Loeper; Mike Peterson, Bessemer Township Representative; 911 Committee Chairman Mike Wiemeri; Julie Ann Giackino, Gogebic County Administrator & Committee Secretary; Jerry Grenfell, Michigan Township Association Representative; Paul Wallenius, Wakefield Post Commander of the Michigan State Police; Ken Jacobson, Gogebic County Firefighters Representative; Ted Finco, President of the Gogebic County Firefighters Training Council; Leroy Kangas, Chairman of the County Board; Sue Cestkowski, Gogebic County Sheriff's Department; Don Bennetts, City of Bessemer; Bob Erspamer, Ironwood Public Safety Department (IPSD) Director; Scott Erickson, Ironwood City Manager; and Tom Laabs, Ironwood City Commissioner. Also attending the meeting was citizen and Downtown Ironwood Development Authority (DIDA) member Louise Demasi. Representing the media at yesterday's meeting were Lou Bonagura and Arvo Toolanen, from IronwoodInfo.com, and yours truly.
911 Committee Chairman Mike Weimeri called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM. The usual approval of the Agenda and the Minutes of the previous meeting (11-03-2008) followed. Chairman Weimeri offered the floor to any citizens wishing to address the committee and there were none.
CLAIMS & EXPENDITURES
The floor was turned over to 911 Coordinator Jim Loeper to discuss the budget and other financial matters. Loeper explained that there is currently a fund balance of $31,514.39 in the 911 Committee's general fund. He explained that roughly 90% of the budget has been used to date. According to Loeper the expenditures have pretty much followed the budget with the exception of travel that is inflated due to legal action taken against the Michigan Public Service Commission. The only other line item he felt needed explanation was the wireless phone fees which was a result of the AT&T charges which he was disputing. The Committee unanimously voted to approve the expenditure claims as presented.
NEW SURCHARGE UPDATE
According to Loeper, Gogebic County is currently charging for 12, 200 phone lines. He pointed out that the number varies as customers add and drop lines, however, it is approximately $1,500 less than what the State originally claimed Gogebic County would get. At a State 911 meeting, Loeper told the Commission, it was explained that several carriers still haven't submitted their payments, and they should be included with the January revenues.
2009 BUDGET
Loeper presented the following budget to the Committee:
|
Description |
2008 Adopted |
2008 Activity |
2009 Requested |
|
Department Head |
22,188.00 |
16,214.22 |
23,088.00 |
|
Salaried & Permanent Part-Time |
11,148.00 |
4,606.53 |
0.00 |
|
FICA |
2,251.00 |
1,538.68 |
1,766.23 |
|
Employers Hospital Insurance |
3,406.00 |
|
3,679.00 |
|
Retirement |
2,010.00 |
|
2,200.00 |
|
Public Relations & Education |
200.00 |
150.00 |
0.00 |
|
Postage |
100.00 |
73.50 |
100.00 |
|
Gas, Oil & Grease |
2,000.00 |
1,379.80 |
500.00 |
|
Supplies & Materials |
2,000.00 |
1,372.41 |
0.00 |
|
Contractual Services |
73,000.00 |
39,157.23 |
122,137.00 |
|
Subscriptions & Dues |
20,000.00 |
15,286.56 |
20,000.00 |
|
Telephone |
2,500.00 |
1,305.25 |
2,000.00 |
|
Wireless Phone Fees |
30,000.00 |
29,336.98 |
18,000.00 |
|
Travel |
2,500.00 |
3,334.70 |
1,000.00 |
|
Advertising |
100.00 |
42.55 |
0.00 |
|
Worker’s Compensation |
1,300.00 |
|
1,400.00 |
|
Employee Health Insurance |
1,200.00 |
1,052.60 |
1,300.00 |
|
Repairs & Maintenance |
3,000.00 |
514.25 |
0.00 |
|
Equipment |
2,500.00 |
1,688.50 |
0.00 |
|
TOTAL OPERATIONS |
|
|
197,170.23 |
|
Revenue Control |
6,403.00 |
|
21,138.23 |
|
911 Telephone Surcharge |
67,000.00 |
33,523.25 |
42,000.00 |
|
Wireless Service Charge |
108,000.00 |
79,103.00 |
133,932.00 |
|
Auditing |
181,403.00 |
112,626.25 |
197,170.23 |
|
TOTAL Estimated Revenues |
181,403.00 |
112,626.25 |
|
|
NET of Revenues/Appropriations |
181,403.00 |
112,626.25 |
|
Loeper explained that several cuts were made in the budget due to declining revenue projections and increased costs. He pointed out that House Bill No. 6070 was passed by the State Senate as amended. According to the Bill that is scheduled to be signed into law on Thursday by Governor Grandholm, the new soft cap (the most Gogebic County can legally charge per line WITHOUT a vote of the people) is $0.42/line. The new hard cap (the most the county can charge AFTER a vote of the people) is $3.00/line.
According to the proposed budget, there will be no appropriation for equipment repairs. Loeper explained that those costs will need to be picked up by the individual governmental entities should repairs be needed. In other words, if Ironwood's main radio were to break, Ironwood would need to pay for the repair or replacement of the equipment. The money is simply not there, Loeper explained.
Louise Demasi asked Loeper what the estimated cost of replacing such radio equipment would be, and Loeper answered with "$20,000. That's for the tower radio! Individual radios are under service contract currently."
Leroy Kangas said, "It's a pretty 'bare boned' budget, Mr. Chairmain, but I vote that we approve it as corrected." The correct budget included $100 for postage. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
AT&T BILL
"As you know, AT&T really put the screws to us this year, as far as the circuits, Loeper told the Committee, "I got contacted by an account manager who has since been laid off because of cut-backs. Before she got laid off, she sent me this... "
Loeper then presented the Committee with a sheet that listed "MIDeal Pricing" for circuit charges. MiDEAL (Michigan Delivering Extended Agreements Locally) is a State program that allows Michigan local units of government to benefit from the State's negotiating and purchasing power by permitting them to purchase from the State's contracts on the same terms, conditions, and prices as State government. Locals benefit not only from the reduced cost of goods and services, but also from indirect savings related to writing specifications, researching industries, processing invitations to bid, recruiting a diverse pool of potential suppliers, and making awards. The MiDEAL program is authorized by Michigan legislation and has been in existence since 1975.
According to the MIDeal Website, membership is open to any city, village, county, township, school district, intermediate school district, non-profit hospital, institutions of higher learning, or community or junior college in Michigan. All it takes to join is an e-mail to
MiDEAL@michigan.gov and payment of the nominal membership fee (for Gogebic County, based on its population, it would cost $230 to join).
The complete list of contracts available through MiDEAL includes over 155 contracts ranging from defibrillators to electrical lamps to mailing equipment. The list of most frequently used contracts includes office supplies, janitorial products, carpet, pharmaceuticals, disposable paper, lawn and garden equipment, cell phone equipment and service, fuel oil, gasoline, tires, vehicles, hardware, tools, computers, furniture, and road salt.
Green products are also available. For more information, feel free to browse the list of available
contracts by category.
According to Loeper's handout, the Gogebic County 911 Committee would save over $2,539.42/month totalling $30,473.04/year. Rates would be locked in, and wouldn't be subject to change. Currently, rates are set month-to-month, and can change at any given time. According to Loeper the County Road Commission and the Gogebic County Transit Authority are currently members of the MIDeal program. Loeper asked a MIDeal representative is the 911 Committee could go under the GCTA's membership. Loeper told the Committee that the MIDeal representative is looking into that option.
Loeper told the Committee that the 2009 Budget that he submitted to for approval included pricing based on the MIDeal program pricing. He said if the Committee doesn't get the MIDeal pricing, the only other option is to cut out the circuit lines and go to microwave transmissions, etc. Loeper asked Leroy Kangas if he thought the county would be willing to purchase the membership. Kangas told the Committee, he doesn't see why the Commission would ever refuse such a deal. "I think we can twist some-body's arm here!" Kangas told the Committee.
The county would realize savings on many other budget items as well -- office supplies, vehicles, equipment, etc. "As far as I'm concerned," Loeper said, "This is a no-brainer!"
Mike Wiemeri said, "We should have been on this five years ago!" Several of the Committee members, including Loeper agreed. Mike Peterson asked, "If Gogebic County becomes a member, I don't understand why ALL Gogebic County entities wouldn't fall under one membership." Loeper explained that he is looking into that issue and he will report back to the Committee once information is available. He did mention, however, that Road Commissions, according to the MIDeal Rep are always a separate entity from County Commissions.
Loeper explained that AT&T's payment to Gogebic County 911 was higher than he expected. He told the Committee that he was expecting a payment for AT&T wireless fees to be about $3,000, and he said it was over $6,000. He said, seeing the difference, he called Alltel and asked them why their payment was so much lower.
HOUSE BILL 6070
Jim Loeper urged the Committee to read through the copy of the Senate Substitute for House Bill No. 6070 that he handed out prior to the meeting. He said the language in the new bill, that is scheduled to be signed into law Thursday, was actually good news for Gogebic County.
According to the document, Page 3, Line 22 under Subsection (2), "A county assessing a county 9-1-1 charge amount approved in the Commission's Order in case number U-15489 that exceeds the amounts established in subsection (1) may continue to assess the amount approved by the Commission. Any proposed increase to the amount approved in the Commission Order is subject to Subsection (1)."
Loeper said he asked the 911 Committee attorney what that would mean should the Committee win the MPSC Appeal. (The vast majority of U.P. Counties have joined together to Appeal the MPSC's decision to set the soft cap prices at unrealistic rates.) According to what Loeper understood from the attorney is that the soft cap would be raised to $0.60/line -- depending on how the court rules. The increased cap would generate revenue equal to roughly $296,000. According to Loeper, the increased cap would cover the County's 911 Budget for Negaunee Dispatch through the year 2013. Gogebic County's surcharge before the MPSC ruling was $0.60. The MSPC dropped the surcharge to $0.30 which lead to the appeal.
Loeper told the Committee that the appeal hearing is scheduled for February of 2009. More than likely, he said, no action will be taken until the middle of next year on the matter, however. He said even if the appeal goes through, there will not be retribution for lost revenues that resulted from MPSC's decision to drop the surcharge.
Ms. Demasi asked Loeper what will happen if the appeal is lost. Loeper explained that the $0.42 soft cap would be put into effect, and a proposed increase would have to be put on the next ballot. According to Loeper the current soft cap will not continue to serve the needs of the County because Negaunee's fees are simply higher than the revenue generated through the surcharge. According to the 911 Negaunee Dispatch schedule, the fees for dispatch are set to increase to $135,000 by 2010.
Ken Jacobson and Loeper both stated that alternatives will need to be explored so that the Committee is ready for all possibilities. Wiemeri suggested that Negaunee may be willing to negotiate a lower rate, should the appeal fail and the soft cap be so limited.
Leroy Kangas pointed out that there will only be one election -- a school election -- in May of 2009. He said that school elections rarely draw large volumes of voters, and that could change the outcome of a surcharge referrendum.
Loeper explained to the Committee that one way or the other, if the appeal is denied -- a ballot proposal will need to be initiated if the Committee decides to stay with Negaunee Dispatch or to create their own "local" dispatch. He said he found a mid-priced 911 system that would suit the County's needs for about $200,000. That money would need to be generated and dispatchers would need to be hired and trained.
With there only being one election in 2009, the County could be placed "behind the 8-ball" if the MPSC's ruling isn't handed down by May. A vote of the people would then have to wait until 2010, when there will be an August primary election and a general election in November.
Louise Demasi asked what would happen if Ironwood or someone else went off on thier own with basic 911. She asked if there was any data available that showed how many calls were made where people couldn't speak to the 911 dispatcher. Loeper told Demasi that no such records are kept. He did, however supply the following information that revealed how many total calls were accepted by Negaunee Dispatch for October '08 and November '08:
NEGAUNEE DISPATCH
|
COUNTY |
MONTH |
FIRE |
EMS |
LAW |
TOTAL |
|
Houghton |
10/2008 |
60 |
291 |
972 |
1,323 |
|
Gogebic |
10/2008 |
21 |
219 |
704 |
944 |
|
Schoolcraft |
10/2008 |
6 |
49 |
311 |
366 |
|
Baraga |
10/2008 |
9 |
81 |
383 |
473 |
|
Keweenaw |
10/2008 |
6 |
16 |
46 |
68 |
|
Ontonagon |
10/2008 |
6 |
38 |
153 |
197 |
|
TOTALS |
10/2008 |
108 |
694 |
2,569 |
3,371 |
|
COUNTY |
MONTH |
FIRE |
EMS |
LAW |
TOTAL |
|
Houghton |
11/2008 |
55 |
260 |
1,046 |
1,361 |
|
Gogebic |
11/2008 |
21 |
199 |
647 |
867 |
|
Schoolcraft |
11/2008 |
10 |
47 |
298 |
355 |
|
Baraga |
11/2008 |
21 |
78 |
398 |
497 |
|
Keweenaw |
11/2008 |
3 |
12 |
44 |
59 |
|
Ontonagon |
11/2008 |
10 |
38 |
111 |
159 |
|
TOTALS |
11/2008 |
120 |
634 |
2,544 |
3,298 |
Mike Peterson told Demasi that 78% of all 911 calls are for Emergency Medical Assistance. He asked her, "Do you want to be that 78%. You call up and you cannot say anything? Enhanced 911 will get you there. Basic will not!"
Demasi told the Committee about an incident that happened in front of her business -- Pizza King Joe's on Silver Street in Ironwood. She explained that Negaunee Dispatch did not know where her business was. They kept asking if her business was in Bessemer. Jim Loeper explained that there are always minor problems with data entry for Enhanced 911. He said updates are constantly being made to improve the system.
Loeper told the Committee that Negaunee Dispatch will be submitting quarterly reports.
MARENISCO TOWER SITE
The only hold-up with turning the Marenisco tower over to Gogebic County is that MDOT insists on gathering appropriate easement information. That information is being submitted to MDOT and the tower should be transferred to Gogebic County shortly, according to Loeper.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
All of the current officers to the Gogebic County Enhanced 911 Committee were re-elected yesterday. Mike Wiemeri is once again the Chairmain of the Committee; Jim Loeper is the Vice-Chairman; and Julie Ann Giackino is the Secretary.
OTHER MATTERS
Ken Jacobson told the Committee about a 911 success story. He explained that a recent fire call, which turned out to be a minor incident, was the center of the issue. He told the Committee that the gentleman calling in the complaint used his cell phone and was connected to Iron County, Wisconsin dispatch. The minute he explained the situation, he was immediately rerouted to Negaunee using the "EASY button" and Negaunee Dispatch did an excellent job taking the complaint and summoning help. He highly praised the system and was very grateful for the quick response by the Ironwood Public Safety Department and the Ironwood Volunteer Fire Department to his complaint.
Mike Peterson suggested that email be used more to save on postage costs. Loeper agreed and he said he would start sending out email notices, etc. Email addresses were taken from all of the members.
Since there was no other business, a motion was made to adjourn. It was seconded, and the meeting came to an end.
