Culver Town Manager Ginny Bess Munroe went before the Marshall County Commissioners Monday morning to express the town’s frustration with communication issues with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department.
Munroe explained that Culver-Union Township Fire Chief Terry Wakefield brought up concerns to the Culver Town Council in a public meeting. The council authorized Munroe to bring the issues to the commissioners.
“A faulty 800 system, which appears to be a county-wide issue, we’ve had several misdirected calls as well that are dispatched to our fire department when in fact those calls should be going to our EMS department,” said Munroe. “We also are seeing a lack of protocol so when the systems are down we’ve asked, ‘What’s the protocol? Who is going to call us and how is this going to work?’ There just hasn’t been a resolution to that even after communication from within our departments. By our estimates, about every third call is either misdirected, given the wrong address, or something goes wrong.”
Bourbon Town Council President Ward Byers also submitted a letter outlining some of the same issues that was read aloud by Munroe in Byers’ absence.
[Munroe, referring to Ward Byers’ letter] “I’ve spoken to several police chiefs in Marshall County over the course of the last many weeks in addition to fire departments. The message I hear from them all is they’re tired of the lack of communication from the Sheriff’s Office, lack of training, and poor dispatching, which leaves them with a sense of concern for their safety. If nothing else, I hope my letter serves as a notice that Bourbon and our emergency services deserve better and, frankly, expect better.”
While there is a Marshall County Emergency Services Advisory Council whose members are aware of the issues, Munroe suggested putting together a task force or other committee to address these issues.
In response to the concerns, Marshall County 911 Director Matthew Pitney said the 800 MHz system Plymouth tower went into site trunking on June 12 for two days and again June 20 for several days. Other towers were working properly, according to Pitney. He said protocols that have been in place for many years were followed properly. He explained that site trunking is a fall back when there is a problem with the 800 system.
Pitney noted that the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department has been updating the dispatch radio system which includes new radios and hardware/software at the desks which has caused some issues, but the installation process should be complete this month.
Sheriff Matt Hassel said turnover is an issue at the Sheriff’s Department.
Hassel, said, “I have 14 staff that normally dispatch and only four of them have more than three years of experience. We have implemented where the more experienced dispatchers are going to be the trainers for the new dispatchers. You can’t replicate or educate years of experience. So we are working on that.”
Sheriff Hassel said an effort has been made to reach out to officials at the state’s Integrated Public Safety Commission.
Hassel continued, “They are going to bring a technician and one of their staff here Thursday, August 4 at 9 a.m. ET and they’re going to go through our entire system – technology, our backup programs and policy for when we go into site trunking. Their overall goal is when they walk away they’re going to give us more than just one plan if we run into the site trunking again.”
He also wants to see if another tower is needed in Marshall County to resolve issues.
Hassel also presented a contact to the commissioners with Ritter Strategic Services which would include an efficiency study which includes a review of policies, procedures, training, and services. The contract was approved with a unanimous vote for $150 an hour which will include an addendum with a capped amount.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer said there is an option to enact a Public Safety Local Option Income Tax and money generated from that would go to the county and each jurisdiction to help pay for public safety equipment, such as towers, personnel, or other needs. He said it is something that needs to be addressed with the Marshall County Council, but no official action was taken during Monday’s meeting.
Officials will be working to clear up communication problems.
