A communication problem may delay implementation of Moore County’s new VIPER-based emergency communications system. Forced to abandon its current VHF-based radio system by federal mandate, the County elected to join the State Highway Patrol’s VIPER narrowband system.
During the Moore County Board of Commissioners’ Tuesday, February 19 meeting, VIPER representative Mike Hunch told the Commissioners that he had misunderstood the time frame to implement the system in the County.
With the Rick Rhyne Public Safety Building scheduled to be occupied this Spring, including the new 911 Communications Center, there is an urgent need to get the VIPER system up and running.
Currently, the County needs 1050 identification codes in order to implement the VIPER system, but not all of these can be given at once, Hunch explained.
But Moore County Public Safety Director Bryan Phillips told the Commissioners that all of those IDs must be available in order to transition to the new 911 Center — which is currently scheduled for March.
“My frustration is you are just finding this out tonight; that this is our issue,” said Chairman Nick Picerno to Hunch. “Someone dropped the ball somewhere.”
Commissioner Larry Caddell told Hunch that, if the County were not moving into a new 911 center, the delay this would not be an issue. However, the County is moving into a new center, and the delay in obtaining IDs may delay that transition.
“You were standing here a year ago saying this would not be a problem,” Caddell told Hunch.
Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey said that, as the County transitions from one radio system to another, there will be some overlap between the current radio system and the VIPER system.
“We can’t just transition to one system all at the same time,” said Godfrey.
Last year, the County agreed to fund the purchase of VIPER communications equipment needed to integrate county and municipal police, fire, and emergency medical services into the County’s new narrowband emergency communications system — a $5.1 million project.
The Federal Communications Commission deadline for implementing was January 1, 2013.
Hunch and County staff were charged with finding a solution to the problem and reporting back to the Commissioners in March.
Eastwood Fire Department takes on EMS duties
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the Commissioners approved an amendment to the Eastwood Volunteer Fire Department contract that would broaden the scope of departmental operations.
Public Safety Director Phillips requested the change, which allows the Eastwood squad to provide Basic Life Support and Emergency Medical Services.
Funding of $7,000 will be appropriated for the increased protection services for the remainder of this fiscal year. Next year, an additional $12,000 will be allocated to Eastwood.
Contracts approved
In other Public Safety related business, the Commissioners:
• Approved an amendment that increases a contract with the Carolina Recording System, Inc., by no more than $4,200 for work being done between February 1 and June 30. The company records calls to the 911 Center.
• Awarded a $245,000 contract for the video visitation and arraignment system installation in the new Public Safety Center to Stanley Convergent Security Solutions of Noblesville, Indiana, at the request of Chief Deputy Godfrey. Originally, $400,000 was allocated for the project.
• Approved a request for three change orders to the D.H. Griffin project on the Rick Rhyne Public Safety Center as requested by Assistant County Manager Ken Larking. The three changes will result in a $338,000 reduction in the contract amount.
Public Hearings
After a public hearing, the Board approved an amendment to the Road Naming and Addressing Ordinance which will add five roads and remove one from the County system as requested by GIS Director Chris Koltyk. Longleaf Court in Seven Lakes West will be added to the system.
After a public hearing, the Board approved a lease agreement between the County and New Cingular Wireless, PCS, LLC to use space on the Short Road water tank located in Pinehurst for communication purposes. County Attorney Misty Leland presented the lease agreement, saying the lease will run through December 31, 2020. The County will receive $46,800 for the initial year, an amount that will increase by three percent every year thereafter.
Keep Moore County Beautiful
Reconfiguring the County’s relationship with Keep Moore County Beautiful [KMCB], the Commissioners approved a request by Assistant County Manager Larking that will bring the Executive Director’s job in-house.
The new KMCB contract will save the County $45,000 by assigning the Director’s responsibilities to Solid Waste Manager Chad Beane. The County will also provide $10,000 in funding towards the hire of a resource worker to support Beane.
Beane told the Commissioners that many of the objectives of Keep Moore County Beautiful are similar to those of the Solid Waste Program.
Public Works
At Beane’s request, the Commissioners approved the submission of an application to the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources for a community waste reduction and recycling grant.
The program will allocate as much as $30,000 in support of Moore County waste reduction and recycling programs. A local grant match of twenty percent — $9,500 — is required, and that amount has already been included in this year’s Solid Waste Division budget.
At the request of Public Works Director Randy Gould, the Board approved an amendment to the contract with Hydrostructures, P.A., for a sewer interceptor rehabilitation project on Highway 211. This increases the price of the project by $12,000, bringing the “not-to-exceed” total cost to $139,700.
Other Business
In other business on Tuesday, February 19:
• The Board approved a resolution confirming the Commissioners support of the Second Amendment of the US Constitution and Article 1, Section 30, of the NC Constitution. County Attorney Leland explained that this supports the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. Commissioner Larry Caddell requested the resolution. When taking their oath of office, the Commissioners pledge to uphold both the US and state constitutions.
• The Board approved a resolution recommending that Ashleigh Blvd be added to the North Carolina Department of Transportation [NCDOT] state road system, as requested by Planning Director Debra Ensminger. Ashleigh Blvd is located in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the Town of Pinebluff.
• The Herbert Stout Award was presented to the County’s GIS Department by Tim Johnson. GIS Director Chris Koltyk will be taking a new position in Jacksonville, NC, Picerno announced.
Appointments
The Board approved the following appointments during their Tuesday, February 19 meeting:
• Jim McNiff as Chairman to the Tax Equalization and Review Board
• Jana Snowball to the Local Emergency Planning Committee
• Dr. John Stacey to the Library Board of Trustees
• Elise McInnis to the Board of Health
