7. 9-1-1 ConsolidationCOUNTY
SERVICESFLATHEAD
DISASTER & EMERGENCY
Kim Poftw
Telephone
Director
Justice Center
406-758-5561
8W So. Main
24 HOURS
Kalispell, MT 59901
406-758-5610
DEAR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER:
PLEASE LET ME TAKE THIS METHOD OF BRINGING YOU UP TO SPEED ON
THE 911 CONSOLIDATION PROCESS. I HAVE ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO
SET THIS TOPIC ON THE MONDAY MAY 2 AGENDA.
THE BOARD OF CRIME CONTROL PROVIDED THE 911 BOARD WITH THE
METHOD OF OPERATION IN THIS PROCESS WHICH WAS ACCEPTED BY THE
BOARD. THIS METHOD INCLUDED SEVERAL STEPS TO IDENTIFY THE SERIOUS
PARTICIPANTS. WE ARE NOW AT THE STEP WHERE WE NEED TO KNOW IF
KALISPELL IS WILLING TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS INTO THE
FEASIBILITY OF 911 CONSOLIDATION BETWEEN KALISPELL AND FLATHEAD
COUNTY.
A MODEL OF 911 CONSOLIDATION WAS PREPARED BY THE BOARD, WHICH
USED THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE BUDGET AND MANPOWER FIGURES. UNDER THIS
MODEL VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE DISPATCHERS FROM 4 DISPATCH CENTERS
. WOULD HAVE BEEN RETAINED FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS. EVEN WITH THESE
HIGH END FIGURES, OVER $200,000 COULD BE SAVED USING THE 1993
BUDGETS AS A GUIDE LINE.
NOW THAT COLUMBIA FALLS AND WHITEFISH HAVE DECIDED TO NOT JOIN
THE CONSOLIDATION AT THIS TIME, WE NEED TO KNOW IF KALISPELL STILL
WISHES TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF A BILATERAL AGREEMENT. THIS
UNDERSTANDING WILL HAVE TO DETERMINE A MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, A
STAFFING PATTERN, A BUDGET AND A SYSTEM OF FAIR AND EQUITABLE
FUNDING, BUT THE FIRST THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS TO HEAR FROM
THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL. WITHOUT YOUR INPUT, I HAVE NO
AUTHORITY TO PROCEED.
SPECIFICALLY, WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO INSTRUCT US TO
CONTINUE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH KALISPELL AS A POTENTIAL
PARTICIPANT WITH FLATHEAD COUNTY. FLATHEAD COUNTY HAS PREVIOUSLY
GIVEN ME SUCH DIRECTION FOR THEIR PART.
ONCE WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT ON ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED ITEMS,
THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL WE PREPARE A FORMAL CONSOLIDATION
AGREEMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS STUDY.
SINCE
KIM S. POTTER
911 CHAIRMAN