Joint 911: Still in limbo with city

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Nancy Taggart

January 23, 2009

By Ronica Shannon The Richmond Register Fri Jan 23, 2009, 08:44 PM EST

Joint 911 dispatching among Berea, the county and Richmond has been on and off the table for about four years. Will Richmond join Berea and the county’s consolidated dispatch in 2009? The answer remains unclear.

Berea and Madison County joined 911 dispatching services in August of 2007.

If it were completely up to Richmond Mayor Connie Lawson, the answer would be clear cut.

“I’ve been for it and I think it’s the right thing,” Lawson said. “This is going on my seventh year (as mayor) and I (campaigned) on consolidated 911. It seems I’m having a hard time pulling it off, but I think it will happen.”

Lawson also said that if the city joined the Berea and county dispatch system, which already is in operation, it would save taxpayer’s money.

“I’m going to say it would save us thousands on the year,” she said.

She also stands firm that none of the present Richmond 911 dispatchers would lose their job if the city decided to consolidate.

Some may no longer have a job with the city’s 911 dispatching system, but they would be placed somewhere within the city and remain on the same pay scale, she said.

The city’s newest commissioner, Rita Smart, said the commission’s first step could be a simple list of pros and cons.

“I think we’re going to have to address it,” Smart said. “What’s the use in putting it off. When you have a problem, attack it.”

Commissioner Robert Blythe has heard all good reports about the county and Berea’s consolidated 911 dispatching system, located inside the Joint Information Center on S. Keeneland Drive.

“I’m trying to get the folks who have now merged to talk about any of the down sides,” he said. “Folks say it will be more efficient, but I don’t have the information in front of me that says it’s going to be more efficient.”

Consolidation for the county and Berea may have been a little simpler because the two entities are smaller than the city’s.

“Our operation alone is monstrous,” Blythe said. “We explored the idea of moving to that location, but still maintaining our own independent operation.”

His major concern with the consolidated 911 idea is having to let go of city employees within the Richmond 911 dispatching unit.

“I have committed that I will not sell out our employees,” he said. “We have good employees. They know their job and they know the area.”

Commissioner Mike Brewer, who also is an employee of the Madison County Emergency Management Services, has been very outspoken in the past about his opinion of consolidating with Berea and the county.

His number one concern has been the city’s 911 dispatch employees, as well.

“I’m thinking that the most city employees that would be hired would be three,” Brewer said. “I’m not going to turn anybody out in this type of economic climate.”

He also expressed concern about response times if the city were to join the consolidated operation.

“We’re being asked to fix something that’s not broken,” he said. “I’ve heard all the issues about saving money and saving lives. Us in particular, the ambulance service, we get to the city of Richmond faster than anywhere because we have less distance to cover. We have a good system, we have good employees, we have good policies that we follow and we get to the scene on time. And, saving money, I’d have to see that.”

The 911 board, that governs the Berea/Madison County operation, is another concern of Brewer’s

“How many (people) would (the city) have on that board?” he asked.

He also wants to know exactly how much money would be asked of the city if it joined the consolidated operation.

“I want it contractually done saying that this is the amount of money the city is responsible for,” he said.

Brewer said he has heard rumors of an upcoming meeting about the issue, but a date has yet to be set.

“As a commission, we need a work session on it,” he said.

Commissioner Bill Strong said he would vote in favor of 911 consolidation, but admitted he had some questions.

“I have mixed emotions,” he said. “We have a tremendous dispatch here at City Hall.”

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 6698.

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