Regional Dispatch Plans Are Outlined

“When talk of this first started, the impression we were under was that it would be in the next four to five years; now they’re saying nine months,” said Jackson. Referring to the four- to five-year timeframe Jackson said, “If it’s sooner than that, I can see a lot of problems with that.”

Alley said he thought he’d initially heard of a three- to four-year study timeline.

Jackson said a reliable source informed him that the former health department facilities in Show Low are being considered for the regional dispatch center.

If a regional center is established, it would mean the other dispatch centers in Navajo County communities, with the possible exception of Winslow, which Alley didn’t think was participating in the project, would be closed.

Jackson is concerned about closing local dispatch centers, which often provide safe harbor for people seeking police assistance or protection.

“Right now, it’s easy on us because citizens know they have a place to go into, a place of safety,” said Jackson.

Jackson said it was in 2010 that he first learned of the plan to study the feasibility of the regional dispatch, which is a national trend in dispatching, he noted.

The city set aside 10 percent of the police department budget to help fund the study, which is being conducted by iXP, a New Jersey-based critical emergency response consultant group.

The first phase of the study, for which the city paid $4,500, assessed the equipment of each participating law enforcement entity for potential use in the new center. Jackson said equipment in Holbrook, Snowflake, Taylor and Winslow was found to be outdated and not usable for the new facility.

The study is now in its second phase, which is assessing how much it would cost each city or town to participate in the regional dispatch. Jackson said the costs would be presented at a meeting on Dec. 16.

Jackson pointed out that during Holbrook’s recent dispatch transition, the city paid $85,000 to change over to a dispatching software system called Spillman, from Rims, the system previously used by the police department, although the city still has the Rims program in place for historical records. Right now, Jackson said, it isn’t known whether a regional center would use the Spillman or Rims software.

“It won’t hurt us if they use Rims, because we still have it up and running,” said Jackson. “But, if we go with Rims, we pretty much shelled out $85,000 for nothing.”

There are still a lot of unknowns about the potential transition to a regional system, but Jackson has real concerns about a quick start up.

“Personally, nine months is too soon for something this big,” he said.

Alley added that even if the region’s police chiefs decide this is a good idea, the proposal still has to be approved by all of the associated municipalities.

“This still has to go through all of the political subdivisions,” he said, adding that he has been in meetings on the topic with Sheriff K.C. Clark.

Vice Mayor Charlie Haussmann asked, “Was it some kind of consensus that this center would be in Show Low?”

Jackson said iMX recommended the location.

“They don’t want to have it in Holbrook because it’s too close to major railways, the interstate and a major power plant,” said Jackson. “If they had to evacuate, they say it would be too chaotic for the dispatch center to be so close to all of those things.”

Jackson added, “From what I’ve been told, the health department facility would be a temporary location until a permanent facility could be built.” He said he didn’t know what the anticipated cost of retrofitting the health department to house a dispatch center would be.

Jackson said he would report further on the subject at a January city council meeting.

In other council business, Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Randy Sullivan provided a year-to-date financial report.

“The general fund is in the black,” said Sullivan. “There are six departments currently over budget projections, but I think those will level out over the course of the year.”

“We’ve got $1.7 million in the bank, so we’re doing really well,” remarked Sullivan, adding that the city is ahead of projections for sales tax revenue so far this fiscal year by nearly $294,000.

In his city manager’s report, Alley said he would be rescheduling a meeting with Arizona Land and Cattle Co. principal Steve Brophy along with a Germany-based company interested in building a wind farm about five miles south of Holbrook, near the Navajo County Complex.

“They’re in the beginning stages, and will be conducting weather and wind analyses,” said Alley.

His initial meeting with the wind farm company was cancelled due to bad weather.

Alley secured approval from the council to spend up to $10,000 to purchase the materials needed to tie the city’s new water well on McLaws Road into the city water system. Alley said Canyon Pipe and Supply of Show Low was the lowest of three bidders for providing the plumbing supplies.

Alley has secured bids, with the lowest coming in at about $4,000, for the construction of a well house, which he anticipates would be constructed when warm weather returns in the spring. After the well house is complete, the well would become operational.

In other action Dec. 13, the council:

* Accepted the Holbrook Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to split a commercial property on Navajo Blvd. owned by Holbrook Land Fund 1/Matrixx Management. The land, which is located at 2020 Navajo Blvd., will be split into seven lots. Currently, the land is vacant except for one tenant, a FedEx truck transfer site.

* Renewed an agreement with Amber Smith to continue to offer Zumba classes at the Holbrook Fitness Center. The terms of Smith’s agreement would remain the same, including paying $1 per student, per month, amounting to about $25 per month.

* The council also renewed its agreement with martial arts instructor Mark Hawley, who offers classes at the Fitness Center. He pays the same $1 per student, per month fee, which results in about $30 per month for use of the facility.

The next regular meeting of the Holbrook City Council will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at city hall, located at 465 First Ave.