Dispatch board fires back with an ultimatum; dispatch director resigns

The Nelson County Dispatch board of directors approved sending a letter to the City of Bardstown that dispatch will no longer handle city fire and police calls in there is no agreement in place when the current agreement’s extension expires Sept. 20, 2016.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, 11:40 p.m.– With the expiration of the 911 agreement between the city and county less than 30 days away, the Nelson County Dispatch Board put the City of Bardstown on notice: Make a decision to stay or leave — just let us know where to send your fire and police calls.

While the mayor and city council continued Tuesday night to debate the merits of leaving the local dispatch service, the board made it clear at its meeting Wednesday that it is moving ahead — with or without the City of Bardstown.

“I don’t want to see any more extensions to the interlocal agreement,” board chairman Fred Dewitt said. “We need to know that on Sept. 21st we’re either going to be a new board, or we’re going to keep on truckin.’ ”

Board member Nelson County Sheriff Ed Mattingly.

Board member Nelson County Sheriff Ed Mattingly agreed.

“To put it simply, the board is of the opinion the city should be given an ultimatum to either come on board or go somewhere else,” he said.

“The city has had two years to make a decision on what they’re going to do and they have yet to do so,” Mattingly said of the joint city-county 911 agreement. “They need to be told that come Sept. 20th, if they haven’t [signed an agreement] they need to tell us where to send their phone calls.”

Dewitt expressed frustration at how board members, the dispatch director and dispatch employees have been slandered and maligned by the city’s representatives over the past few months as the city has debated its options for 911 dispatching.

“Well, we’re done, and here’s the game plan: Take it or leave it.”

The board authorized Dewitt to send a letter advising the City of Bardstown it will no longer handle city calls should there be no agreement by Sept. 21.

DIRECTOR RESIGNS. One of immediate needs the dispatch board faces moving forward is hiring a new director. Dispatch Director Debbie Carter presented the board with her letter of resignation effective Friday, Aug. 26.

Carter told the board she has accepted a dispatch manager’s position with a private for-profit EMS service in Louisville.

Dewitt thanked Carter for her five years of service as director and for all she has helped the board accomplish.

“You’ve made a big difference here with the knowledge you brought to us, and we appreciate that,” Dewitt said.

EMS Director Joe Prewitt expressed concern that the negative comments that have been part of dispatch discussions may complicate hiring a new director.

But Judge Executive Dean Watts assured the board that Nelson Fiscal Court’s decision to move the 911 fee to county property tax bills will shore up dispatch finances and insure that there will be a board overseeing 911 dispatching.

INTERIM DIRECTOR. Until a new director is hired, the board approved giving Dewitt an opportunity to talk with dispatcher Milt Spalding about serving as the interim dispatch director. Spalding previously serviced a stint as interim dispatch director.

ROAD NAME REQUESTS. The board reviewed two requests from property owners who did no want to change their addresses and name the private road serving their homes. The board decided that the addresses needed to conform to the standards to allow fire, police and EMS locate them when called.

Evans noted that the road naming standards must be met in order for a dispatch center to qualify to receive 911 cellphone fees.

“We don’t want to risk those funds because people don’t want to change their address,” he said.

In other business, the dispatch board:

— heard a report from David Evans regarding additional private road names and address changes. There are 250 addresses left to change and 71 private roads that he felt should be named in order to comply with addressing standards. The current Louisville Road construction project will ultimately mean an additional 70 addresses will need to be changed.

— heard a request by Carter to hire additional full-time dispatchers to reduce the dependence on part-time employees for shift coverage.

— discussed the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office’s move to the Law 2 frequency. The move has reduced the congestion when the sheriff’s office and city police were on the same channel, Mattingly told the board.

— discussed securing an auditor for the dispatch’s budget.

-30-