Regional dispatch proposal moving closer to reality

WASILLA — Currently, depending on the location and the nature of the emergency, Matanuska-Susitna Borough 911 calls may have to be explained twice. If things go as anticipated, the Mat-Su’s 911 dispatch services could soon all be housed under one roof.

At its Dec. 26 meeting, the borough assembly approved an action memorandum awarding an $8,833,107 enhanced 911 five-year-plus contract to the City of Wasilla through June 30, 2022. Final borough approval of the agreement is expected at the regular Jan. 11 assembly meeting.

The item also is on the City of Wasilla’s consent agenda for action at Monday evening’s regular city council session. Mayor Bert Cottle said in all likelihood, council members will sign off on the agreement at their planned Jan. 24 meeting.

Current setup

Currently, the borough is served by two public safety answering points: the Palmer Police Department Dispatch (PPD) and MatCom through Wasilla Police Department. Both departments are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provide radio dispatch and support functions for respective customer agencies. PPD has, for the past seven years, answered all incoming 911 calls and relayed it to the appropriate agency. It dispatches PPD along with boroughwide fire, rescue and EMS resources for the borough. MatCom dispatches WPD and is the contracted Alaska State Trooper service provider which handles all law enforcement needs in the Mat-Su’s unincorporated areas.

Incoming 911 calls for fire, ambulance and rescue throughout the Mat-Su are dispatched by Palmer police. Police calls within PPD jurisdiction are dispatched the same way. However, outside PPD jurisdiction, the Palmer dispatcher has to relay the call to MatCom for further action. According to a 2013 consolidation final report, many times that leads to the caller having to repeat themselves or wait while the original dispatcher repeats the information to their MatCom counterparts.

“The current configuration introduces unnecessary delays in response and communication, needlessly complicates citizen access, and reduces critical dispatcher (and responder) capabilities...,” the report stated.

Borough action

On March 11, 2016, the borough bid out the project. According to borough documents, three bids were received. Those proposals were reviewed and evaluated by a seven-member team made up of borough department directors, emergency managers and state of Alaska employees. The borough chose the City of Wasilla as having submitted the proposal with the best combination of price and experience.

The borough’s Department of Emergency Services will oversee the contract, which is expected to start April 1. It includes a three-month transition period in addition to the five years of coverage. According to the borough, during the transition, the City of Wasilla will test facility operations and be ready to go by mid-summer. Costs for the project will come from existing 911 and areawide surcharges in place on cellular phone service. Those costs include just under $900,000 for the transition phase along with $1.5 million for each of the remaining four years on the contract.

The move

“We want to be able to offer better coverage and better notification,” Cottle said of the switchover. “(Discussion on the topic) has been going on for years. This is not about location.”

Cottle said the move calls for adding nine additional positions at MatCom. The move also calls for renovating the existing facility as well as an equipment upgrade. Once complete, MatCom will dispatch all 911 services with the exception of Palmer Police, which opted to maintain its own coverage, the mayor said.

“We’re just starting the process,” Cottle said.

According to the consolidation report, PPD currently utilizes 14 full-time dispatchers.

Cottle said there will be no carryover of current dispatchers to the revamped facility. He said if the Wasilla City Council approves the agreement, the openings will be posted Feb. 1. There are also some additional services added.

Cottle said plans also include adding dispatch services for the Chickaloon Tribal Police Department. The department consists of two officers who handle tribal member police issues.

“We’ve got a target date of August 1,” Cottle said about bringing the project online.

Contact reporter Chris Ford at chris.ford@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.