Trending
PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Commission is looking at a radio system upgrade as equipment is starting to be moved into the new Wood County 911 Center.
Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard and Wood County 911 Director Mike Shook appeared before the commission Monday to discuss the purchase.
"This is something that needed to be replaced a long time ago," Woodyard said. "We wanted to wait for the new building to come into play before we replaced it. This is one of the heavy lift items."
The sheriff said they wanted to install it as they were getting equipment placed at the new center.
Shook said the county still does not have possession of the building as they are addressing a few minor items with the state fire marshal. Work stations have been put together, equipment is starting to be placed, and the building is starting to be cleaned.
Representatives of the 911 center have been working with Avtec Inc. dispatching systems. They negotiated a price to around $300,000 with some additional equipment added in to help operate the system, considered an upgrade.
Officials said the system is easy for dispatchers to use. Many of the features will look like what they are now using.
''There will be a very slight learning curve,'' Woodyard said.
Commissioners wanted a system easy for dispatchers to use
"Our system is easy for our dispatchers to learn and utilize in crisis situations," Commission President Blair Couch said.
Commissioners are planning to tour the new facility next week. Officials have estimated it will take a few months to get the new center up and running with an expected opening date in spring.
A backup facility is planned for the new center being built in downtown Parkersburg.
Officials are planning on the new Wood County 911 Center to be a regional hub if county 911 systems consolidate.
The Wood County center has provided 911 service for Wirt County for years.
"We are going to have a state-of-the-art center for 911," Couch said.
"It will be leaps and bounds over anyone else. The idea is we are already providing service to Wirt County and there is no reason we couldn't provide it to other counties as well.''
Officials wanted to see if the system upgrade would have to be bid out or if it was on a government contract they could use.
County officials want some paperwork outlining the costs and contracts involved.
Shook said they need to have an answer before Dec. 8 so they can lock in the price they were given.
''We need to move quickly to lock in that price,'' he said.
Officials talked about the need for additional people as both dispatchers and deputies.
Commissioner Jimmy Colombo, who participated in the meeting by phone, said many people don't want to commit to the responsibilities those jobs require.
With budget time coming up, officials will be discussing ways of finding qualified people to do those jobs.
They commended the people who already serve in those positions.
''When people call 911, they have a competent operator who can dispatch,'' Couch said.
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com