E-911 dispatch board welcomes new chairman; will advertise for new director

Bardstown Police Sgt. Tom Blair, left, and E-911 Board Chairman and Bardstown Fire Chief Randy Walker during Tuesday’s board meeting at the Nelson County Library.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, 11 p.m. – The new E-911 Dispatch Board met Tuesday for its first meeting under the new agreement between city and county governments governing the joint city-county dispatch center.

Bardstown Fire Chief Randy Walker was named the new board chairman, per the new interlocal agreement. EMS Director Joe Prewitt was elected to continue to serve as the board’s secretary and treasurer.

Walker made assignments to the personnel and equipment committees, and decided to leave the budget committee appointments open until January, when work will begin on the next fiscal year’s budget.

New Haven Fire Chief Fred DeWitt, Bardstown Police Sgt. Tom Blair and Nelson County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Kaelen Matthews were named to the personnel committee. The three will review the dispatch director job description and the application process prior to the board’s next meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

Walker appointed Blair and Nelson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Michael Clark to serve on the board’s equipment committee.

SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL. The board approved creation of a 50 cent per hour shift differential. Fulltime dispatch employees who work the 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. shift will receive a 50 cents per hour differential. Interim Director Milt Spalding had reported earlier the budget impact of the differential will be about $4,368.

NEW HAVEN TOWER UPDATE. The base for the new tower to be installed in New Haven should be ready for concrete sometime next week, depending on the weather.

AUDIT UPDATE. Spalding told the board that he had sent requested information to an auditor who will prepare a proposal for the dispatch board audit. The audit won’t take place until after the first of January, which is still within the allowable time frame, he said.

STATE RETIREMENT BOARD. Spalding said no action has been taken on the dispatch board’s application to join the state retirement system. The lack of action is due to a reduction in staff personnel at the retirement system, he explained. The dispatch board has been withholding the required retirement funds and will forward them to the retirement system once the dispatch board’s application is approved.

NEXT UP. The E-911 Dispatch Board will next meet Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, at the Nelson County Public Library.

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