E-911: Last stop before the polls

Vic Martin, (center) director of Lapeer County Central Dispatch, hosted the last townhall meeting at the E-911 command center on Thursday. LAPEER — A handful of residents turned up at the Central Dispatch Center in Lapeer Thursday night for the last townhall meeting on the upcoming E- 911 ballot issue. Central Dispatch Director Vic Martin hosted the event, which drew a half dozen interested residents and about the same number of people representing emergency responders. Martin said it was the largest turnout he’d seen for the three town hall meetings.

E-911 Systems Administrator Jeff Satkowski helped field questions along with some members of the Central Dispatch Authority Board who were in attendance. Board chairman and Elba Township Fire Chief Mike Burke and Undersheriff Bob Rapson were on hand, as well as Galland Burnham from Lapeer County EMS.

The meeting generated a healthy exchange of questions and answers. Residents expressed some skepticism about whether the old analog system could be nursed along. Martin said that the system already failed twice in the last year.

Vic Martin hosted the last informational meeting Thursday. “It’s kind of like the Edsels,” said Martin. He said that it’s hard to track down replacement parts since they are no longer manufactured.

Martin also said that if the millage failed, it would be a minimum of two-and-a-half years before a new system could be put in place. That’s because the millage could not be brought before the people for at least another year, and it takes one-and-a-half years to install a new system.

“I don’t think our system will last that long,” said Martin.

One resident objected to spending $60,000 to hold the special election. Satkowski said that to wait until the next general election would mean that costs for the new system could go up by at least $400,000.

“My neighbors are voting no because they’re hurting. That’s why nobody’s here,” said one resident. Martin acknowledged that it’s a difficult time to ask voters to approve a millage, given the current economic conditions. He said the need for the new system is urgent, in light of possible crippling failures in the old system.

Language on the ballot that discusses Downtown Authority Development capture generated discussion. Three municipalities in the county have chosen to exercise their right to capture funds from the special millage if it is approved. By law, the language that references the DDA capture is on the ballot and can generate confusion.

DDA funds are only captured from within those taxing districts, and in this millage represent a small percentage that will be diverted to the DDAs. Martin said that the Dryden DDA has agreed to apply its captured funds to E-911 purposes within their district.

Some residents objected to the idea that any special millage funds can be diverted to other purposes through capture. Vic Martin urged them to contact their state representatives about the law that allows it.

Residents also questioned why the groundwork had not been laid earlier to make the switch to digital. They wondered what would happen at the end of the next 15 years on the state system. Martin assured residents that the state would upgrade the system for the next 15 years, but said that no one could predict right now what type of technology might be on the horizon in 15 years.

At the end of the meeting, interested residents took a tour of the dispatch center and equipment room. Five dispatchers were at work fielding calls and sending emergency responders where they were needed.

The issue now goes to the voters. The question is whether Lapeer County will replace its 13-year-old analog central dispatch system with an up-to-date digital one.

The millage seeks 0.75 mills for 10 years, which will pay for the $16 million upgrade. The cost to the average homeowner will be about $75 per year. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.