By Karissa Minn
kminn@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY ó County commissioners approved a design for a new 911 communications center Monday, including space for the city of Salisbury if it chooses to consolidate.
The total cost of the planned facility is nearly $1.7 million.
An additional $5.6 million would pay for 911 equipment purchases.
County Manager Gary Page said the project will be paid for out of existing 911 money and a quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in November 2009.
The design includes office and dispatcher space for the city of Salisbury, which has shown interest in moving its staff to the building but has not yet agreed to do so.
Even with that added cost, Page said, the 911 center project is set to come in $2 million under its $12 million budget. He said the county was able to find a lower price on radio equipment and also save money on its three planned towers.
If the county begins managing emergency communications for the city of Salisbury, Page said, it can get state funding to construct a backup 911 center.
He said even if the city simply moves its dispatchers into the same building, the county can get funding for backup equipment.
Chairman Chad Mitchell said the county needs to prepare for the future and plan for consolidation, regardless of what Salisbury decides now.
ěThat is a function the city of Salisbury is currently performing, but tomorrow they could come to us and say, ëWeíre not doing it anymore, so you must,íî Mitchell said. ěAnd weíd be required to do it.î
After the meeting, he said the transition could be done gradually to minimize the cost burden on the county and avoid cutting staff or services
Commissioner Raymond Coltrain said bringing the departments together could not only save city taxpayers money, but also help bring down response times.
ěI live in Salisbury,î he said. ěIf Iíve got a police need, and I call 911, it goes to your office. If I tell them I need Salisbury police, it then goes to the Salisbury 911 center.î
Rob Robinson, telecommunications director, said the transfer can take just a few seconds, but it depends on the information the dispatcher gets from the caller.
ěIf we have trouble determining whether itís in Salisbury or not, then yes, it can get delayed,î Robinson said. ěAlso, if they do get it and it turns out they not only need police but an ambulance, they have to transfer it back.î
The county currently dispatches all emergency calls in the county ó including for the Salisbury Fire Department ó except for Salisbury Police Department calls.
In its unanimous vote Monday, the board agreed to pursue the purchase of property at the top of Youngís Mountain. If the county owned the property, the state could build a communications tower on it that would be free for the county to use.
The state already is building a tower in Pooletown and will allow the county to attach an antenna at no charge.
For the third antenna location, Page said the county is currently in negotiations with the city of Kannapolis to locate on their tower.
Also Monday, the board voted to delay consideration of a birthday benefit for county employees until the countyís financial audit is completed.
Page said it could be argued that offering a paid birthday off costs the county either $41,655, which would be paid to replacements for public safety employees, or $125,000, which is the calculated savings from each of three furlough days in 2009.
Commissioner Jon Barber made a motion Monday to give the employees three annual leave days over the next three years. He said it would cost the county nothing and show support for the employees, who have received no raises or merit pay for three years.
Commissioner Jim Sides countered that the day off would indeed carry a price.
ěYou canít use that argument if you also use the argument that a furlough day saves the county $125,000,î Sides said.
Coltrain seconded Barberís motion, but it failed to gain support.
ěWith an annual leave day, itís up to the employer and also the workload of the department to determine when that day is utilized,î Coltrain said. ěItís much less complex than managing around a birthday.î
Mitchell and Vice Chairman Carl Ford both said they prefer the option of a one-time bonus for employees. Ford said the economy is still too uncertain.
ěIf the economy turns around in 6 months, it can be time for pay raises again,î Ford said. ěI donít have a problem with that, but I wonít support this today.î
Mitchell said he would support an annual leave day instead, but he made a motion to table the issue until the county receives its annual audit report.
Barber and Coltrain opposed the decision, which passed 3-2.
Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.
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