West Central Dispatch Center Board Makes Budget Decisions

The board of directors of the newly approved West Central Dispatch Center (WCDC) met Friday in a special meeting in . The board discussed and approved several resolutions, including the approval of a provisional budget. Members postponed other key items to be discussed at the next meeting on Dec. 22.

"We have a lot of work to get done," said Town and Country Police Chief and City Administrator John Copeland, who serves as Chairman of the WCDC board.  

Provisional Budget:

The first agenda item was a provisional budget that could cover all the start up costs. The WCDC member cities Frontenac, Creve Coeur and Town and Country agreed to pay $92,000 each for this budget.

Creve Coeur City Administrator Mark Perkins asked why there was nothing regarding salaries for employees and a general manager. Copeland said the full operational budget was not ready to be decided upon.

"In my original provision it was (the operational budget in the agenda)," Copeland said. "This is more pressing, so I think we should get this taken care of."

The board agreed on a provisional budget of $275,000. The federal E-911 grant, which the WCDC was awarded, will reimburst the cities this money.

Contractors approved:

Board members approved a contract in the amount of $64,239, for Hedicorp Contracting Inc., which will provide the construction and remodeling of the center which will be housed in Town and Country's current police dispatch center at the city's Municipal Center. In a previous board meeting on Nov. 24, Copeland said Hedicorp has provided a lot of work for Missouri Baptist Medical Center and staff was satisfied with the production.

In order to stay in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the board approved Wright Line to provide new furniture in the amount of $32,562. New furniture with height adjustable workstation platforms, which will make "the workplace readily accessible to and usable by people with disabilities."

St. Louis Electronics/Wireless USA, will provide the implementation of a two-way radio equipment necessary for the new dispatch center. Currently the three cities have incompatible radio equipment. The board approved the two-way radio upgrade project in the amount of $54,566.

"We really need to get this ordered this year," said Capt. Patrick Kranz, administrative commander of Town and Country police. "If all these get approved today, I will be on the phone this afternoon and tomorrow to get this."

Specific payroll and health care benefits for future employees were topics postponed until the next meeting on Dec. 22.

Kranz, who led the meeting, said the board was successful in approving the main three items necessary for the construction of the dispatch center, which is expected to be completed by Match 1.

"We need to get our operational budget for 2011 before the end of the year," Kranz said.

Kranz said the citizens of Town and Country, Frontenac and Creve Coeur should be excited for the center. He said it will provide a more efficient method for emergency response in the area.

"Let's just say that if people called 911 and in the past it took five rings before the dispatcher answered, now it will take one," Kranz said. "There will also be savings projected for the tax payers of the county."