150 attend dispatch forum

Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe discussed the feasibility of shifting emergency response duties from Troy Area Dispatch to his department’s dispatch service Thursday night in a packed Troy Senior Citizens Center.

Before a crowd of about 150, Bowe outlined the details of his department’s proposed $253,860, two-phase upgrade. Stressing that his department conducted the feasibility assessment at the behest of numerous citizens and local government officials, Bowe shared the stage early in the night with Katie Davis, Troy Dispatch’s head dispatcher. Davis’ self-deprecating style played well as she delivered a passionate speech in favor of preserving Troy Dispatch.

“We have kids come in the middle of the night because their parents told them to go there whenever they have trouble,” Davis said. “Even at 3 a.m., you can get shelter and someone to help you with your problem. That has happened more than once, and to me that is worth $73 a year.”

Davis touched on the fact that discussions of dissolving Troy Dispatch are coming shortly after its building underwent a renovation which, along with radio upgrades, cost about $160,000.

“That is like building a new house, turning on the lights and leaving town,” Davis said. “When Pine Tree Plaza burned down, we got donations at all hours. We don’t just do this as a job, we are passionate about it.”

Davis’ speech was followed by a long, loud round of applause. One of the audience members in support of Davis’ talk was Eric Howe, the 30-year-old father who was burned on a third of his body while escorting his family out of the building and later reentering to rouse other tenants in the apartment complex. Howe raised concerns over where he would have gone, and how quickly he would have received treatment, had he not made it to Troy Dispatch that cold winter morning.

The potential losses of six dispatching jobs and the local connection and knowledge dispatchers have of their area was routinely brought up during the two-hour meeting. All three county commissioners— Mike Cole, Tony Berget and Ron Downey—were in attendance, as well as Troy Area Dispatch District chairman Gene Rogers, Troy Mayor Darren Coldwell, Troy Chief of Police Bob McLeod and Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder Tammy Lauer.

If Troy Area Dispatch District voters choose to dissolve Troy Dispatch, Bowe said his department would charge Troy Police Department approximately $10,000 for dispatching services.

“My concern as mayor is I can see five, six years down the road where we are looking at $20,000 or $30,000,” Coldwell said.

Bowe referred to the Libby Police Department’s dispatching cost of $31,000.

“It has been that much since 1995,” Bowe said. “I’m not in the business of making money off of anybody. We just need to cover costs.”

When concern arose about Troy Dispatch’s current allotment of 56.86 mills, instead of its voted limit of 20, Berget addressed the crowd.

“We believe if you vote for 20, it should stay at 20,” Berget said, speaking for himself, Cole and Downey. “But the previous commissioners voted to let these float. Not all counties allow special districts to float, but Lincoln County happens to be one.”

Voters approved Troy Area Dispatch District to receive 20 mills in 2000, but a combination of accounting errors at the County Clerk and Recorders office and decisions by previous commissioners to float mills in districts with voter-approved limits led to the near tripling of Troy Dispatch’s budget compared to what voters said they were willing to pay. Rogers, who declined comment, has stated his board is willing to receive one mill next year to compensate overburdened taxpayers.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department Captain Kirk Kraft stressed the value of enhanced 911 mapping capabilities should the sheriff’s dispatch take on Troy calls. Still, Bowe conceded that his department relies on Troy Dispatch often when navigating the area.

Quite of bit of chatter sparked when Bowe outlined the first phase of the proposed upgrade, which would establish a communications tower at Troy’s landfill and upgrade radio communications for Troy emergency personnel. The cost of the first phase would be $134,560, although Bowe said his department is exploring measures that could potentially bring that number closer to $100,000. Completion of the first phase would make Lincoln County Dispatch Center fully operational in the Troy area. Bowe also added the feasibility assessment took into account the contents of the landfill, and said he is confident there would be no interference. Kraft said he did look into the possibility of utilizing fiber optics or Internet communication systems.

“Nothing is as reliable as the microwave,” Kraft said. “The repeater gets us the best bang for the dollar.”

The second phase would establish a microwave communications system at a cost of $119,300. Bowe described the system as “very robust.” Bowe said the microwave system has “always been on the wish list.”

Troy Dispatch’s future will soon be in the hands of the public. A vote on dissolving the district will either appear on the June or November ballots. Voters must decide if they are willing to continue paying the $250,000 Troy Dispatch needs to operate each year. The alternative, the two-step upgrade, would come with a one-time cost of $253,860. Both Bowe and Lauer have stated Troy Area Dispatch District residents are paying for a duplication of services when paying the public safety fee in their county taxes.