Daviess County’s emergency communications system will get a much-needed upgrade. Wednesday morning, the Daviess County Council approved Sheriff Gary Allison’s request to use approximately $73,000 from the E-9-1-1 account to pay for upgrades to the county’s three microwave transmitting towers and to add an additional tower. The current system was put together using cheaper commercial grade equipment and has had problems for years. There are times that the Dispatch Center is unable to talk with officers in the field. The upgrades will bring the equipment up to public safety standards. Due to supply chain issues and winter weather, the project will take approximately six months to complete. Along with the communication upgrade, the Council approved Dispatch Center Director Julie Berry’s request for a $3,700 appropriation to purchase a software program that will allow operators to react more quickly when dealing with individuals making emergency calls. The Council approved a request from Superior Court Judge Dean Sobecki for overtime pay for the court reporter. The Council also appropriated funds received through pauper attorney user fees collected by the court. Most of the rest of the Council’s agenda consisted of approving end-of-the-year line-item transfers of funds within department budgets and the approval of salary ordinance amendments for the Sheriff’s Department, Central Dispatch, the Health Department, and West Boggs Park. Dispatch Center Director Julie Berry noted that the Dispatch Center currently has four job openings.
