(TNS) — The Cumberland County Department of Public Safety plans to pursue an almost $3.7 million capital project to upgrade its computer-aided dispatch system.
“We are working with other regional counties to develop a comprehensive system to replace our current system,” Mike Snyder, deputy director for 911 communications, told the county commissioners last week. “We anticipate that a contract would not be signed for at least six months. We would have an 18- to 24-month time[line] for implementation.”
The Cumberland County commissioners granted a request from the Department of Public Safety to purchase pagers for ambulance companies at a cost not to exceed $75,000.
By then, the current software, purchased in 2019, would be seven to eight years old and due for a refresh, Snyder said. The commissioners unanimously approved the estimated at $3,688,303 request.
Since the multicounty initiative fits the definition of an interconnectivity project, the local project might obtain significant funding from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency through the 911 surcharge, Snyder said. “That may also open the door for continued funding for [project] maintenance.
“One of the big benefits is that regional component,” he said. “We could split the yearly maintenance three, four, five, six ways versus each county functioning as an island onto itself.”
Cumberland County commissioners authorized staff last week to apply for a $64,387 state grant to establish a walking trail on county land.
There also are operational benefits that go with the consolidation of protocols and the radio and phone systems. The goal would be to tie together the various county dispatch centers into a virtual public safety answering point for the region.
“If our 911 center goes down for whatever reason, it would allow us to easily shift call volume if we have a surge of incidents,” Snyder said. “It would allow the other counties to answer calls on our behalf if they are not busy and then simply route those calls over to us for dispatch. It falls in line with PEMA’s plans. That’s encouraging counties to work together.”
A regional approach could reduce the subsidy needed from the county budget, Snyder said. “The more counties we can encourage to participate together, the higher the score the project would receive, the better the opportunity we have for enhanced funding. We are also looking at developing other processes if that funding is not immediately available.”
Cumberland County seeks $1M grant to pay for replacement mobile unit for public safety.
That unit can no longer support the latest upgrades in phone, radio and console equipment, department Director Bob Shively said in late October.
Commissioner Chairperson Kelly Neiderer noted the rapid pace of technology changes.
“A lot of folks may not be aware it’s no longer just getting calls from someone picking up a phone and calling 911,” she said. “I don’t know if the general public is understanding of that and how those things are managed.”
“That’s one of the struggles we’re currently facing,” said Snyder, who serves on a statewide committee reviewing changes tied to the Internet. “There is a belief that more and more calls for emergency assistance are going to flow from technology whether it’s wearable devices including watches, heart monitors or aura rings. We’re going to start receiving more and more information including latitude and longitude.”
New standards are emerging regarding information on the altitude of the person making the call, Snyder said. “If you’re in an eight-story building, it tells you where the person is at. These things are requiring technology enhancements.”
A governance document will be prepared outlining the roles and responsibilities of each county involved in the regional effort, Snyder said. “That would come back before you.”
In related news, the commissioners acted on two motions tied to the P25 radio project.
Currently, the county uses an L3 Harris Open Sky system for its emergency calls. Work is underway to switch to a P25 system using a Motorola-based platform.
The commissioners last week approved a $34,945 contract with Hexagon, the current vendor for the county. The contract is for a new feature that would interface the computer-aided dispatch software with the digital voice system being implemented as part of P25, said Claudia Garner, deputy director of administration for the department.
The commissioners also approved a no-cost license agreement with Dauphin County to utilize space on the Reservoir Park Tower for the improved communications system. The agreement runs through 2072.
“There is the responsibility to replace batteries at the site about every five years,” Garner said. “Those are being refreshed this year by them [Dauphin County]. We will be responsible for the next batch of batteries.”
Cumberland County will also be responsible for a portion of costs involved with any road maintenance needed over the course of the license agreement.
Sirens for Service features Curtis Hall with the Cumberland County Department of Public Safety and New Kingstown Fire Company.
Shift Supervisor Curtis Hall has served with the Cumberland County Department of Public Safety for about 30 years. He is also the fire chief at New Kingstown Fire Company, where he has volunteered for about 38 years.
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