Increased Expenses and Decreasing Revenues Put the Squeeze on 911

BESSEMER, MI - Wednesday, November 05, 2008 - The regular monthly meeting of the Gogebic County Enhanced 911 Committee was held at 1:00 PM Monday in the Circuit Courtroom in the Gogebic County Courthouse in Bessemer. Committee members present for the meeting included: Jim Loeper, 911 coordinator;  Ken Jacobson, Gogebic County Firefighters Representative; Leroy Kangas, Chairman of the County Board; Paul Wallenius, Wakefield Post Commander of the Michigan State Police; Julie Ann Giackino, Gogebic County Administrator & Committee Secretary; Mike Peterson, Bessemer Township Representative; John Suutala, Michigan Township Association Representative;  Ted Finco, President of the Gogebic County Firefighters Training Council;  Mike Hazen, Chief of Police, Lac Vieux Desert Tribal Police; Bob Erspamer, Ironwood Public Safety Department Director; Randy Forstrom, Operations Manager for Beacon Ambulance; Dick Caudill, Watersmeet Township Representative; Sue Cestkowski, Gogebic County Sheriff's Department; Bruce Mahler, Marenisco Police Department; Scott Erickson, City Manager, City of Ironwood; Mike Wiemeri, 911 Committee Chairman; Larry Sanders, Gogebic County Sheriff; and Tom Laabs, Ironwood City Commissioner.

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

Representing the media at Monday's meeting were Arvo Toolanen, IronwoodInfo.com and yours truly.

The meeting started off with the usual approval of the agenda, the minutes from the previous meeting and a chance for citizens to address the Committee. The agenda and the minutes were approved and there were no citizens present to address the Committee.

Jim Loeper presented the budget and the list of revenues and expenditures to the Committee. According to Loeper, the fund balance of $70, 136.88 posted on the list doesn't include a payment in the amount of $34,508.00 to Negaunee Dispatch that will happen this week.

Loeper also supplied the Committee with spreadsheets representing the "wired" and "wireless" revenue payments for 911 service in Gogebic County. The AT&T payments to the system were not made prior to the meeting, making any budgeting concerns nearly impossible for the Committee.

Based on the surcharge information available to date, according to Loeper, last year's revenue in the 9820 wired lines in Gogebic County generated $53,499.13. If the current surcharge amount remains the same for the year, total revenues for wired accounts will only be $33,144.80. That means the Committee will have a shortfall of $20,354.33.

The problem the 911 Committee is now facing is this... How do you pay an increasing dispatching fee to Negaunee and increasing line charges when your income is reduced by over 38%? The Michigan Public Service Commission's surcharge adjustment is simply unfair.

On the other hand, the revenues from the Tier 1 wireless device's (60% of what the State charges on wireless accounts) surcharge for January through October of 2007 was approximately $106,724.00. Revenues for that same period on 1365 devices for 2008 total $106,496.00. The wireless surcharge revenues seem to be only slightly off last year's. 

Tier 2 revenues (based on devices within the county) are received through charges are collected through Alltel ($1,053.89), Verison ($161.70), AT&T, and Sprint/Nextel ($21.17). According to Loeper, AT&T has not yet made their wireless payment and it is not included in the 2008 revenue report. Of all of the companies, AT&T is expected to be the largest of revenues due to the fact that they are the major player in wireless devices in Gogebic County.

According to Loeper, the MPSC appeal is currently moving forward, and hopefully, if the appeal is successful, surcharges can be returned to a reasonable rate that can actually make funding 911 services feasible.

Loeper announced Monday that his assistant, Rachael S. Paquette, handed in her resignation on October 21, 2008. Her resignation read, "After much thought, I regret to inform you that I am going to resign from my position as 911 Assistant. With a two weeks notice, my last day of employment will be Friday, October 31, 2008. However, if the position is not filled by then, I will be willing to come in to train the next candidate if needed. Thank you very much for the opportunity."

Loeper told the Committee that he doesn't plan, at this time, to fill the vacancy. The Committee voted unanimously to accept her resignation.

According to Loeper, House Bill 6070 is being rewritten. He said until the Bill is rewritten it is virtually impossible to comment on it.

In other action, all fifteen U.P. counties have signed to the 911 Authority. Loeper told the Committee that a representitive needed to be appointed for Gogebic County. The Committee unanimously voted to recommend Jim Loeper as Gogebic County's representitive to the 911 Authority. Their recommendation will be forwarded to the Gogebic County Commission for their final approval.

Brian McEachern, Negaunee Regional Dispatch Representative, told the Committee that two major awards were given to Central Dispatch personnel. Jim Mileski, got a "technologist of the year award" and Greg Sharp, got an award for "professional excellence." These APCO awards are Michigan statewide awards, and they are the first such awards given to U.P. personnel.

According to Loeper, the Marenisco Tower ownership should be transferred to the County shortly -- by the end of November.

John Suutala introduced Jerry Grenfell to the Committee. Suutala explained that Jerry would be taking his seat on the Committee, as Monday's was John's last meeting. Suutala is retiring. The Committee gave Suutala a round of applause and thanked him for his years of service.

Ironwood City Manager asked for an update on 911 options and Loeper highlighted the various options available. (See previous 911 Ad Hoc and other articles.)

EDITOR'S NOTE: The meeting was briefly interuptted as a "fire call" came in to Ken Jacobson, Ironwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief. A gas spill at Wal-Mart had been called in and Jacobson had to leave the meeting early to respond. (See related story.)