SN ! ; ® The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, October 12, 1994 5 A & » | / Guest column | Back Mountai ld gain f ty-wide 911 ice \ ; ; : By TED WRIGHT workable solutions can be found. detailed and has to include infor- end of the line. It is a system of the communications center could by the 1.25 per month telephone The leaders of the emergency mation that the equipment to be telephone equipment, specialized be located and operated efficiently line charge will be approximately Realizing it to be in the public services must put forth an honest installed will be adequate to meet radio equipment, computers, from anywhere in the United $194,295. The 1995 budget for interest to provide a toll-free tele- effort to do so. Contacting those the demands of the community highly technical software and States. the BMCC lists operating costs for phone number 911 for any indi- who have been involved in estab- and how this equipment will be standard operating procedures Issue # 6: Operation of Back the center at $147,056. That vidual within the Commonwealth lishing the systems that are al- backed up to keep the center in (SOPs) that detail what is to be Mountain Communications Cen- would leave $47,239 to purchase togainrapid, directaccesstoemer- ready operating might be a good operation in case of failure. It done during a particular emer- ter comes at less cost to the tax- all of the telphone and computer gency aid, in 1990 the Pennsylva- place to begin. Itis likely Lycom- verifies how the emergency tele- gency. While the BMCC has some payer than the $1.25 per month equipment that would berequired | nia State Legislature passed and ing, Clinton and Tioga Counties communicators willbe trainedand of these items, it lacks the com- ($15.00 annual) telephone line , toenhancethecurrentsystem. In the governor signed into law the had many of the same questions qualified tomeet therequirements puter equipment and software charge as allowed by Act 78. A ' addition there would be additional : _ Public Safety Emergency Tele- and problems when they were of the Act. It also must include needed to enhance the system for review of the BMCC budgets indi- manpower costs to comply with / @® hone Act of 1990, P.L. 340, No. starting out several years ago. detailed information about the automatic number identification cated that this is not true, espe- Act 78. How does the BMCC | 78. The Luzerne County Com- Theymay havealreadyestablished manning of the communications (ANI)and computeraideddispatch cially for the residents of Dallas intend to do this without continu- missioners being in agreement workable solutions to some ofthe center to insure thatthe 911 calls (CAD). Boro. The budgets submitted by ing to take money from the mu- | that its residents are entitled to problems facing Luzerne County. are answered within seconds. The 911 service that isin place ~~ Mr. Jeff Box, who is the Manager nicipalities general funds? Ifthey | this vital public service have au- The various print media in the When the communications center at BMCC is nothing more than a for Kingston Twp. and Treasurer do that it will be double taxation - thorized the expansion of its area have published articles and is operating it will be under in- call forwarding system that when of the BMCC, have Dallas Boro and the cause will be the local communications center to incor- editorials with concerns that an tense scrutiny by the state agen- dialed is stepped up, at a switch- paying a disproportionate share elected municipal officials. : porate a county wide 911 Emer- enhanced centralized 911 system cies to insure the regulations of ing station, to a regular seven toward theannualoperating costs The following questions need to - gency Services Communications may not work in Luzerne County. Act 78 are being complied with. digit telephone number. Com- of the center. The figures are be addressed by the Dallas Boro . Center. Why won't it? Could it be that the The BMCC currently is under pared to the equipment and sys- based onthe 1990 censusandthe Council and the Back Mountain Every county which surrounds individuals providing the infor- no obligation to comply with any tems that are available today this 1994 and 1995 budgets of the Communications Center. Luzerne is either on line with mation to the news media are not of these regulations. amounts to little more than “tin BMCC. With a population of2,567 Question #1: What is being enhanced 911 or will be in the very familiar with Act 78 and its Issue #2: Nowhere is it man- cans tied on the end of strings.” It people Dallas Boro has 10 per done to make Dallas Boro’s con- very near future. For the pasttwo regulations for the establishment dated or encouraged to develop a ispossible thatduringahighusage cent of the population (25,367) of tribution to operate the BMCC years, during the course of my of 911 communications centers? 911 county wide plan in order to telephone service periodsuchasa the service area covered by the more equitable? 3 employment, I have been going Itisdisturbingthatwhilethenews implement Act 78. holiday or during amajorstormor BMCC. Yet out of the $117,360 Question #2: How much is the into communications centers in media makes passing statements The preamble to Act 78 states disaster a person needing emer- that the five municipalities con- lawsuit, which has been instituted many of the counties which sur- abouttheneedfora91l1 systemin specifically that is the intent of gency service could receive a re- tribute toward the operation of with regard to the interpretation $ round Luzerne. I have witnessed Luzerne County they seem to be the General Assembly that au- corded message informing them the BMCC, Dallas Boro pays ofAct78, going to cost the taxpay- the intense planning which was listening to the nay-sayers and thority and responsibility for the that all the circuits aree busyand $27,464 or 23%. With one millof ers of the member municipalities? J required to obtain state approval. editorializing in their behalf. It creation and implementation ofa to call back. The county 911 collectible real estate tax generat- Question #3: If the BMCC is I have seen the expansion of the appears that the media has failed plan establishing operating and system will have dedicated trunk ing $7,000 the $27,464 is the successful in its quest to main- existing communications centers to do in depth investigations that maintaining adequate facilitiesfor lines going directly into the com- equivalent of 4 mills of property tain a separate communications | &@tc accommodate the telephone present both sides of the issue so answering emergency calls and munications center avoiding this tax in Dallas Boro, Kingston center, how will the center be equipment, radio consoles, com- that there can be a truly informed dispatching a proper response to problem. There will be reduntant Township has 27 per cent of the funded to provide enhanced 911 puters and other auxiliary equip- public. The Back Mountain Com- callers needs shall be vested in back up trunk lines in case the population (6,763) and pays 27 service? : ment that is needed to havea first munications Center (BMCC) has county government. It further main lines become inoperable. percent ($32,798) ofthe operating Question #4: What is the con- class enhanced 911 service. I taken a leading role in trying to states thateachcountyisencour- While anything electronic or me- costs. Now there's an equitable tingency plan in case the Back d have watched the installationand prevent the establishment of a aged to implement a 911 emer- chanical can fail, the system share of the costs. Dallas Twp. Mountain Communications Cen- ’ testing of this equipment and the county wide system as evidenced gency communications system planned for the county will be has 30 per cent of the population ter determines that it cannot af- [ successful solution of problems by their lawsuit against Luzerne and to consider maximum inte- much more reliable than the sys- (7,625and contributes27 percent ford to operate as an independent } which developed. 1 have seen Countyand the Commonweathof gration of telecommunications tem atthe BMCC. ($32,798). Jackson Townshiphas center after a few years? 1 what were originally conceived as Pennsylvania challenging the facilities and capabilities within Last and probably mostimpor- 21 per cent of the population In Luzerne County currently insurmountable problems be provisions of Act 78. their planning in order to econo- tant, when 911 is activiated with (5,336) and contributes 10 per there are projects being planned |, overcome by a spirit of coopera- No one can dispute the value of mize the costs, as well as to effect the proposed county system an cent ($12,150). Lehman Twp. has such as the raising of the dikes, ion by all of the emergency serv- the service that the BMCC has a more rapid response capability. automatic number identification 12 per cent of the population an inflatable dam to form a rec- ! ices providers who were involved provided over the past several With thatstatementitisapparent ' (ANI) computer system will iden- (3,076) and contributes 10 per reational lake (find me someone in these projects. years. However as the “C.B. ra- that the opponents of the county tify the telephone number from cent ($12,150). who will swim in that river water) | It may seem possible that dios and pockets full of dimes” 911 system who are giving infor- where the call originates. This in- Based on these figures the and an all purpose arena. Mil- | Luzerne County is currently the gave way to newer telephone and mation to the news media that formation will then be automati- annual per capita costs for the lions of dollars of Luzerne County | only county in Northeastern Penn- radiosystems, these systemsmust centralized communications cen- cally tied into a computer aided residents of Dallas Boro tobelong taxpayer dollars are going to be , sylvaniawithoutanapproved plan give way to the newer electronic ter is not encouraged by the Act, dispatch (CAD) system which will to the BMCC is $10.70. A family spent on these projects with the , for the implementation of this communications and computer either they have not read Act 78, identify the municipalityandstreet of three is paying $32.10 and a benefits only goingtoa few. Much | critical service because certain technology thatis available today. don't understand what they have address of the origin of the call. family of four is paying $42.80. In of the opposition to the Luzerne - individuals believe a county-wide A review of some of the issues read or may have willfully tried to This information will appear ona Kingston Twp. wherethepercapita County 911 Communications * 911 communications center can’t being raised by those who are misinform the public. monitor screen at the telecommu- cost for the BMCC isonly $4.85,a Center is coming from munici- + work here and are saying and againsta county wide 911 system Issue # 3: Luzerne County is nicators console. If for some rea- family offouris paying $19.40 per palities, such as Wilkes-Barre City @oing anything that they can to is in order. This review will in- toolarge to have a centralized 911 son the person cannot speak or year. and Kingston, which are going to prevent it from becoming a real- clude the intentions of Pa. Act 78, emergency communications cen- remain on the phone, the location Whatever formulaMr. Boxuses benefit the most from these other ity. The size of the area of cover- what service the BMCC currently ter. of the call's origin will have been to determine the municipalities’ projects. Ifthey do notwanttogo age, population or location of the offers, what service is being pro- As was mentioned earlier, Los identified and the police can be contributions, what is the justifi- along with the 911 project which ~ communications centers are not posed by Luzerne County and the Angeles and New York City both dispatched to obtain more infor- cation for the Dallas Boro per will benefit all of the residents of * determinants of success. Eco- economics of both. Readers have very successful, centralized mation about the emergency and capitacostbeingmorethandouble Luzerne County then they nomics,. planning, engineering should keep in mind that other communications systems. Closer the appropriate emergency re- that of any of the other member shouldn't expect the residents of ! and a determination to make the opposition groups throughoutthe to home Lycoming Cotirity, which sponse units dispatched. municipality's per capita cost? Luzerne County to pay for the system work are. Los Angelesand ' county are attempting to raise is very similar to Luzerne County, = The BMCC requires two way With the proposed county 911 , projects will be of little or no bene: | New York City, the most popu- similar issues that the BMCC is is on'lifie and operating a'central- verbal conversation in order fora system, which is technologically fit to most of us. ; lated urban areas in the United using to attempt to prove that a ized county system. While the person needing assistance to re- far more advanced than the This has been written to pro- @ States, have establishedandmade county wide communications population base is not as great it ceive any type of emergency re- BMCC, a family with one tele- = vide the public with information centralized communications cen- system is not in the best interest is larger geographically, its ter- sponse. Ifa personneedingassis- phone line into their residence with regard to the operation and { ters work. Clinton County, oneof of the public. Investigations into rain is similar to Luzerne and it tance cannot talk to the telecom- will pay a maximum of $15.00 per costs of the Back Mountain Com- the least populated counties in their existing systems would services the communications municator and give an address year regardless of how many munications Center and to show : Pennsylvania, has made a county probably reveal their arguments needs of the City of Williamsport whereassistanceisrequiredthere people live in the house. The the advantages of the establish- / wide communications center are just as weak as those of the which is similar to Wilkes-Barre. can be no emergency response. $1.25 per month, per phone line ment of Luzerne County Emer- work. These 911 communica- BMCC. Issue # 4: The Back Mountain The BMCC is not even close to charge to pay for the county 911 gency 911 Communications Cen- tions centers are successful be- Issue #1. Anythingthat Luzerne Communications Center already providing the services of the pro- system is truly a fair-share way of ter under Act 78. If the energy of cause of the hard work and dedi- County does is mired down with has 911 service so the county posed county system. paying for the system as everyone those opposed to such a system | cation of individuals from the politics and political appoint- system will be duplication of ef- Issue # 5: -Our local dispatch- with a phone line will pay. The can be directed towards solving : police and fire departments, res- ments. forts and will result in double ers know the area and therefore = BMCC is supported by taxdollars the problems instead of creating | cue squads, ambulance services In most cases this can be a taxation. can give faster service to those in and the non-taxable organizations them, Luzerne County willhavea | @:nd emergency management valid arugment, however in this It should be noted that the need of emergency services. such as schools, colleges and first class system. All residentsof agencies who believe that such case, Act 78 has very strict regu- BMCC does not provide service for Fact of the matter is the Chief churches and any other similar Luzerne County are entitled to | systems can work. These people lations and controls as to the es- all of the communities considered’ Dispatcher for the Back Moun- organizations who use the serv- have the benefit of a Luzerne | sat down and identified their tablishmentand operationof911 as part of the Back Mountain. tain Communications Center re- ices rendered by BMCC do so for County 911 Emergency Commu- specificneeds and problems, made communications systems. Aplan Harveys Lake Boro and Fair- sides in Pittston Twp. There is free. Under Act 78 they will be nications System. These systems plans, developed strategies and mustbe developed and submitted mount, Lake and Ross Townships alsoa part time employee whoisa required to pay their share under work all over the country. Hope- began establishing and updating to the Department of Community have determined that either they full time dispatcher for Wilkes- the $1.25 per month line charge. fully, all residents will be soon the communications centers. Affairs. Once DCA gives approval cannot afford the BMCC or that it Barre and resides in the city. End Issue # 7: Let the Back Moun- served by such a system. L They were constantly reviewing the plan is then forwarded to the does not meet their needs. Fran- of that argument. tain Communications Center 3 the progress being made, identi- PennsylvaniaEmergencyManage- klin Twp. is serviced by the Wyo- As mentioned above, with auto- remain independent; take the Ted Wright has been a fire- fying new problems as they oc- ment Agency for a second ap- ming County 911 Communica- matic number identification (ANI) moneyauthorizedbyAct78andit fighter for 26 years, and is a for- @curred and determining solutions. proval. If the plan is rejected itis tions Center. There is more toan and computer aided dispatch will provide enhanced 911 serv- mer chiefofthe Dallas Fire Depart- ’ They overcame the problems and returned to the county be be re- efficient emergency communica- (CAD) and the technology and ice. : ment. He is presently fire training they are continuing with the proc- vised and the process is repeated tions system than just being pick- equipment available to transmit A cost study prepared by a supervisor for Bucks County ' ess today as their systems are until a satisfactory plan is ap- ing up a phone, dialing 911 and the information that appears at communications consultant has Community College. He lives in operating. proved. This plan must be very talking to a local person on the the telecommunicators console estimated the revenue generated Dallas Borough. : There are many questions to be i answered and problems to be : y resolved before Luzerne County ; ‘ will be able to establish an en- : : hanced 911 communications i center. The questions must be y swered truthfully. The problems ! Ji | @mustbe identified in detail so that | ° {| It's easy to subscribe. : Use the handy coupon on page 2 4 ACF STUD () K-PAT CARPET ® . ELEC uihorized 3 icator $20.95 [a ; UPHOLSTERY CLEANED : | SOFA or 2 CHAIRS ; | CPLR Scotchaard | Protector * Fully Insured « Guaranteed Work | * Residential/Commercial + Dual-Process = = | Lowest oe a140 & Save! C | dSSES fo I 6 We {2 k S ee by S i O n Office Cleaning Available | All Levels i “Lifetime” Warranty We will eliminate all water leakage problems. Free Estimates Birchwood Waterproofing Co. Plains, PA 829-3752 Ages 3 - up Beginner - Advanced Next Session Begins week of Oct. 24" $3600 CALL 675-7227 A OI a LU 0 LT LI HB E00 YR 0 WA ANT A
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers