COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on Tuesday afternoon to table a decision on a proposed 911 Service Plan for the County until December 30th.
The vote came after a public hearing which included more local government, police and fire agencies who asked Commissioners to table action so that various concerns that have been raised about the plan by stakeholders could be addressed.
Consultant Kevin Kearns from IXP of Seattle spent two weeks in Branch County after being hired by County Commissioners in September.
He reported there was a lot of tension in the current model and service plan.
He also found out in his interviews that the tensions have been going on for a considerable amount of time.
Many felt the plan as presented left all of the authority and decision making with the County and relegated all of the other municipalities, law enforcement agencies, fire services, townships and public to strictly an advisory role.
Commission Chair Terri Norris said they can tweak some information and some the language and it was never their intention to exclude the 911 Board from day to day operations and oversight. She wanted to make sure the language was clear.
Commissioner Jon Houtz says he has talked with Sheriff John Pollack, Coldwater City Manager Keith Baker and others. Houtz felt good progress has been made over the last couple of weeks. He added people he has talked to feel it’s time to stop “kicking the can down the road” and get an agreement everybody can be happy with.
On a related matter, the Commissioners approved the 911 Communications contract with J and K Communications which is the contract for the 800 megahertz radio system.
Funding in the form of a surcharge by a maximum of $2.52 per phone device was approved last month by Branch County voters 9,596 to 8,574.
The new radio system would replace an old system that dates back to the early 1990’s. The proposed surcharge was backed by police and fire departments around Branch County as well as the Branch County Sheriff’s Department. They say the new equipment would provide better coverage and increase safety for police and firefighters.
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