Dispatch board meets, prepares for changes coming with new 911 agreement
Bardstown Fire Chief Randy Walker, second from right, listens during the E-911 Dispatch Board meeting Wednesday. The meeting was the last for the board in its current configuration and membership. From left, Sheriff Ed Mattingly, interim Dispatch Director Milt Spalding, Walker and Bardstown Police Sgt. Tom Blair.
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, 1 a.m. — The existing E-911 Dispatch Board met for one final time Wednesday prior to the formation of a new board of directors under the guidelines established by the 911 dispatch agreement recently approved by the Bardstown City Council and Nelson Fiscal Court.
The new agreement specified changes in the makeup of the dispatch board. Currently, the police chiefs of Bloomfield and New Haven are members of the board by virtue of the offices they hold. Under the new agreement, they will no longer serve as dispatch board members.
Dispatch board chairman Fred DeWitt, right, comments during Wednesday’s board meeting as New Haven Police Chief K.C. Holbert writes some notes.
The new seven-member board will include: two representatives from the Bardstown Police Department; two representatives from the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office; the chief of the Bardstown Fire Department; a representative of the county’s fire departments and a representative from the county-owned ambulance service.
Interim Dispatch Director Milt Spalding updated the board on the status of the dispatch center’s application to participate in the state retirement system, and his progress on finding an auditor to examine the board’s finances.
NEW MEETING LOCATION. The 911 board held its meeting for the first time at the Nelson County Library. Nelson County Judge Executive Dean Watts said he suggested the move in order to allow the board — and the next board — to meet on “neutral ground” in order to promote a spirit of cooperation as the city and county move forward.
‘I want us to make dispatch the best it can be,” Watts told the board. “I think by starting over fresh and we can make it work.”
Nelson County Sheriff Ed Mattingly told the board that he will take a step back from direct participation in the board meetings in the future, and will appoint two deputies — Lt. Kaelen Matthews and Sgt Michael Clark — to represent the sheriff’s office on the board.
“I know at times its been ugly in the past,” he said of past public statements directed at the board and dispatch. “Everybody said ‘don’t take it personally’ but I have,” Mattingly admitted. “Once this new board gets going I’m going to back out and let these two bring a fresh perspective to the board as it moves forward.”
NEW AGREEMENT UNDER REVIEW. The new 911 agreement has been signed by the mayor and judge executive, but requires one final step — a review by the Kentucky Department of Local Government.
NEW DIRECTOR. Board chairman Fred DeWitt suggested that the board agreed to advertise for a dispatch director with the understanding that the selection process will involve the new 911 board once it is begins to meet.
DeWitt also said as long as he is a board member he will continue to work to address dispatch issues as they arise. DeWitt will no longer be chairman under the new dispatch agreement. The county sheriff and chief of police will alternate serving as board chairman, with the chief serving as chairman on even years, and the sheriff serving as chairman on odd years.
Mattingly said the new board should also create a complaint process in order to help address the issues dispatch users may have.
NEXT UP. The next E-911 Dispatch Board meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016.
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