Emergency Dispatch Center Board of Directors approves new position

A new position was approved by the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center Board of Directors, at the regular monthly meeting held on Oct. 13. Approved was the position of Addressor/GIS Coordinator. The duties of that position will include assigning and correcting addresses in the GeoCom mapping system, verifying and correcting address labels in MSAG, and coordinating with the county GIS administrator to update information as needed. The director will fill the position, which is an hourly wage position, pay to depend on experience.
The Board also dealt with an upcoming change in the Fair Labor and Standards Act. The board voted unanimously to change the director's pay to $47,476 per year to remain compliant with the new requirements for salaried employees, an increase of $3,476 per year. This change will be effective Dec. 1, on the date of the official change. The Final Rule of the Fair Labor and Standards Act sets the standard salary level at the 40th percentile of earnings of full-time salaried workers in the lowest-wage Census Region, currently the South, which is $913 per week or $47,476 annually for a full-year worker. Also included is an automatic update of the salary and compensation levels every three years. This is to maintain the levels at the above percentile. The Final Rule makes no changes to the duties tests.
After being presented with price information of new half-ton and three-quarter-ton trucks from local dealerships and the state bid, the board tabled the matter of a new truck for the Dispatch Center. It will be taken up again when the 2017 state bids are out.
David Bledsoe, director, reported that the center's water line was moved from south wall at ground level to west wall about two feet up and the outside spigot replaced. A severe leak of the outside water spigot had developed due to it's poor location. He also reported one tornado siren needed a new battery, a problem discovered after the September tornado siren test. Fire Chief Allen Smith contacted the maintenance company and had it replaced.
He also reported that ProQA implementation is underway. This will take a few months for installation and training of personnel. He also announced that STI Technology will be installing new business phones soon, because the current phones are outdated and are no longer supported by the manufacturer for repairs.
The inspection of the main tower was completed by A&W Communications. The tower is in good structural condition. The new office desk is still being built. The new chair arrived last week.
The director and two employees attended the annual CJIS/MULES Conference held Oct 4-6 at Tan Tar A Resort in Osage Beach. Bledsoe reported receiving a lot of new information and some excellent training from provided courses. He, one 911 employee and several law enforcement officers from the different agencies in the county attended Amber Alert training at Troop F Headquarters in Jefferson City. This training was for changes to the Amber Alert policies. On Oct. 4, Bledsoe, Chief Deputy Kevin Morse and Sheriff-elect Tony Wheatley attended the Moniteau County CrimeWatch meeting.
The center is scheduled on Oct. 25 for the triennial CJIS/MULES Audit, as required by FBI standards.
According to the treasurer's report, sales tax received was $68,651.65. The MMDA account balance on Oct. 12 was $744,082.27. The CD balances, on Sept. 30, were approximately $235,462. Payroll totals were: Sept. 22 - $10,529.28, and Oct. 6 - $9,590.56. Overall payroll taxes were $7,394.93. Total accounts payable approved at the meeting was $17,420.34.
The next Meeting is set for Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. It is planned for the newly elected board members to be sworn in to assume their duties.