Claremore Daily Progress

Breaking News

Top Stories

July 18, 2012

Claremore opts out of E911 center

Chief Brown cites inconsistent actions by commissioners

Salesha Wilken Staff Reporter

CLAREMORE — Claremore city councilors voted Monday to move forward with the city’s E911 technology advancement and to eliminate their involvement in the Rogers County E-911 center.

After much discussion and a 5-2 split decision, the council decided that the direction the county is currently going is very different from the goals of the city.
Police Chief Stan Brown presented information including a timeline of events to the council. After the discussion, Councilor Bill Flanagan proposed a 30-day extension to give the county one more opportunity to work with the city. This suggestion was heard, but the council moved to vote on the issue as it stood.
Councilor Thomas Cypert made the motion to exit the city’s involvement in the regional center and move forward with the city’s technology improvements. Councilor Don Purkey seconded the motion.
Councilors Paula Watson, Buddy Robertson, Mayor Mickey Perry, Cypert and Purkey supported the motion.
Councilors Mark Lepak and Flanagan voted against the motion.
Brandon Smith and Terry Willis were not present at the meeting.
“My purpose for being here today is to ask you to allow us to move forward separate and independent from the E-911 center,” Chief Brown said.
Commissioners are now preparing to break ground on the center. 
“The commissioners need to know where what our level of participation is additionally there are numerous technology projects the city wants to move forward with,” Brown said.
He presented a timeline of planning events for the center backed by the commissioner’s agenda items.
The document uses the words trust or governance numerous times, according to Brown.
The issue has been discussed a number of times, but despite discussions the decision to form a trust has been changed.
“Regional 911 concept is a good idea in concept in theory, however it has to be governed and managed correctly to see all the advantages,” Brown said.
On Feb. 27, a letter was presented to the Rogers County Commission at that time they voted to approve a trust to oversee the center, according to Brown.
“The letter presented the city’s concerns, however to this date we still have not received a response to that letter,” said Brown.
In May, commissioners voted to reverse that decision and to establish an enhanced E-911 Advisory Board.
This board would only provide a seat on the board to the city and that only an opinion could be offered to the head of the board whom would present a recommendation to the commissioners, Brown said.
The commissioners would ultimately have the final decision-making power regarding the center, he said.
“The big issue for the fire chiefs is what the cost will be,” said Claremore Fire Chief Sean Douglas. 
Another issue is that the county has purchased a radio system that will not be compatible with the city of Claremore’s current equipment for police and fire services.
“Our concern is that if the operations model that they currently have in place only changes buildings, then we can not offer assurance to the citizen that the level of service they have right now would remain the same,” Brown said.
The funding the city currently has now is an issue. Brown and Douglas discussed this issue with the council. 
“Basically, the agreement they have got in front of us now doesn’t give us any measure of understanding of how this thing will look after a year of operation. Where they plan to go with it,” Brown said. “My concern is, that once we give up that funding mechanism, we don’t know where to go from there and we would not get our money back.”
The technology issue is complicated by the city’s plan to continue developing mobile data technology.
The city is looking at $300,000 in upgrades currently for the department. The funds have been saved overtime to purchase the equipment.
If the city joins the center and loses funding, their ability to upgrade would be limited, because the city would no longer have control over the funds.
“We are responsible for the citizens of Claremore, right now we have control over the quality. We give that up if we go into it,” Perry said. “We like the concept we always have.”
He continued to explain that if the county had developed a trust then the city would have a say in the operation, however the commissioners changed their mind and voted against a trust.
“We need to decide so we can move forward,” Perry said.
“Will the well being of the citizens of Claremore’s and quality of life be as good or better if we stand alone and move forward with our own improvements,” Watson said.
Brown assured Watson that the city would continue to maintain and develop services. He also described in detail the Rogers County Commissioner’s inconsistent decision-making process regarding the development of the center.
The commissioners voted more than three times to develop a trust and then later reversed the votes.
They also have hired consultants and fired them moving to hiring a 911 Director. The discussion centered about how the commissioner’s lack of decisiveness have been one concern of how the center will actually operated.
The city officials were very clear to explain they would be willing to work with the county in the future, but that a clear plan needs to be developed and that the city would need a “say” in the operation of the center.
The county had previously issued a response to the city’s concerns by stating that the center will be run by the commissioners and will be advised by a panel, according to City Attorney Matt Ballard.
The council moved to vote based on these comments and the lack of organization on the part of county officials during the past three years.

Text Only
Top Stories