dispatch - WKTV Journal

Now all fire and police departments in Kent County will be on the same countywide digital radio system for emergencies. (pxhere.com)

The Kent County Dispatch Authority, Kent County Sheriff’s Office and Kent County Fire Chiefs Association announced the final users of the new countywide digital radio system for police, fire and emergency response personnel have transitioned to the system.

The final users are comprised of 28 fire departments across Kent County that utilize fire paging to alert emergency responders. Many of the county’s fire departments serve rural areas, where pagers provide clearer and more reliable communications. The Kent County Dispatch Authority, or KCDA, which led the radio system project, purchased the fire pagers in 2018 through a voter-approved surcharge. The pagers were used on the old system before they recently were reprogrammed by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office to the new system. The new radio system enables first responders to better communicate between agencies, ultimately saving lives, property and time.

“While the radio system has been operational for more than a year and we have already transitioned nearly 5,000 radios, transitioning the fire pagers was the final step in ensuring all of our public safety agencies in Kent County have clear and reliable communications,” said Kent County Dispatch Authority Chairman Mark Herald.

The $25.7 million radio system – funded by the 2016 voter-approved surcharge – went live in December 2020, with the Grand Rapids Police and Fire departments and Kent County Sheriff’s Office transitioning to the system in early 2021.

The 800-megahertz, or MHz, radio system replaces an outdated analog system and joins the statewide radio system operated by the Michigan Public Safety Communication System that allows coordination between local, state and federal agencies. The Kent County system is comprised of 12 transmission sites and two 911 dispatch centers: Kent County and Grand Rapids. It was the result of nearly four years of planning, site acquisition, construction, equipment installation and testing.

“The Kent County Sheriff’s Office worked closely with these 28 fire departments to provide technical support and other assistance to ensure a smooth transition,” Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young said. “Adding these agencies to the new radio system enhances the safety of our residents and first responders.”

The KCDA is a multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary board created by Kent County and the cities of Grand Rapids, Grandville, Walker and Wyoming to enhance 911 communication services in the county.

“These pagers are critical to alerting firefighters of calls for service and ensuring response activities are coordinated between agencies,” said Kent County Fire Chiefs Association President Sam Peterson. “We are grateful to the Kent County Dispatch Authority and Kent County Sheriff’s Office for their partnership in this important project.”

The City of Wyoming hosted several meetings about its new master plan. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

While recognizing the accomplishments of the Kent Country Dispatch, the Wyoming City Council expressed concern over the funding of the dispatch authority and decided to only approve a one-year renewal agreement for dispatch services at the council’s Monday night meeting..

Mayor Jack Poll said the concern is with Kent County dispatching its Sheriff Department personal to areas in townships without any payment by the townships.

“This is in addition to the county essential providing those townships some free services from the Sheriff Department, some townships pay for enhanced services, and charging the townships for jailing persons committing crimes in townships and paying the costs for courts that serve townships,” Poll read from a discussion that took place about dispatch funding.

Poll noted that cities like Wyoming must pay for most of the same services with Wyoming residents paying county taxes to support services for the townships while also playing city taxes to the city so it can pay the county to provide those services to the city residents.

City Manager Curtis Holt, who was the chairman for the Kent County Dispatch for 14 years, said funding has been a concern with the authority. The county does view the issue differently in that it the sheriff provides police services for those communities as part of the dispatch which is part of the county taxes.

“The difference is is in 75 percent of the nation dispatch authorities stand separate and are not part of the sheriff’s department,” Holt said during the city council meeting. “We have actually voiced a desire to look at this as an independent agency and the county continues to resist that as a potential solution.”

Holt said longterm funding of the dispatch authority is something that will have to be considered in the near future.

The county was seeking a five-year renewal for dispatch services. Poll said under the approved agreement, the city could opt out if a better solution is found.

Council members did note that over the years, the services provided to both residents and officers through the dispatch have improved greatly. This included eliminating the number of call transfers from residents to local police departments and bringing online a new 800 megahertz countywide dispatch system that will make it easier for the different departments to communicate with each other.

Palmer field set to get new lights. (WKTV)

Palmer Park

At its Monday meeting, the City Council approved a $277,137 bid by Buist Electric for new field lights and a net at the Palmer field. Buist Electric was the lowest bidder.

Wyoming Director of Community Services Rebecca Rynbrandt said that many people do not realize that the Palmer field is located on Kent County land. The ball field is located on the edge of Kaufman Golf Course, which is operated by the county and the 44th Street Armory. The city has had a relationship with Kent County specific to the Palmer softball field since the 1960s.

That agreement, according to Rynbrandt, is that the city is responsible to operate and maintain the field and its related facilities such as the parking lot, restrooms, lights and retention wall.

According to Poll, the lights at the park are 35-years-old with the electrical service in the park being antiquated and need of upgrades to meet code. The project was noted as a priority with the city’s 5-year community Recreation Plan. The new netting would be added to the left field fence with the height being raised to help prevent balls being hit onto 44th Street. The work is scheduled to be done this year.

The total costs came in higher than the estimates of $175,000 partly because of the decision to use LED lighting which uses a fraction of the energy relative to other lighting sources. LED lighting also has a 25-year warranty , which provides a savings in maintenances and repair costs. The LED lights will reduce the light spilling into the surrounding neighborhood.

Due to the age of the equipment and the transition to an LED product, the city is seeking a reimbursement of some funding through a Consumers Energy program. The Council did approve an amendment to the budget of $130,000.

[Re]Imagine Wyoming Master Plan

After 16 months of work and numerous meetings with community members, the Wyoming City Council approved its new master plan, which will provide a framework for city growth over the next 15 – 20 years.

Stop sign added

The council also approved a new stop sign for the intersection of Goldcrest and Mulligan drives. Drivers on Goldcrest Drive will now need to stop at the intersection before entering onto Mulligan Drive.

Appointments

The City Council approved Nancy Quero-Ramirez to the Community Enrichment Commission and Audrey Zapata to the Planning Commission.