EMA Meeting Discusses 911 Operator Salary
Mahaska County Emergency Management
OSKALOOSA- The Mahaska County Emergency Management Commission met in regular session November 10. Among items for discussion among the commission was the 2017/2018 commission budget.
At the onset of the meeting, Robinson expressed concerns over the reporting of the September emergency management commission meeting by an area news agency. Robinson said that the reporting misrepresented statements that emergency management had gone $9,900 negative due to a budgeting error. In actuality, it was from the previous budget structure that EMA absorbed during the transition. Robinson added that the statements in the story regarding the issue were wrong and had prompted phone calls to Robinson regarding the issue. Robinson said that after dealing with phone calls on the matter, he contacted the publisher of the news agency, who indicated that they would not retract the story.
Jeff Forward, regional editor of the Oskaloosa Herald commented about the statement made by Robinson, “The policy of the Oskaloosa Herald is to correct any potential errors in news articles or other coverage that we are made aware of by sources, readers or we discover ourselves after publication. When presented with proof of possible inaccurate reporting on our behalf, we will immediately investigate those claims, and if necessary, we will amend and correct any errors in online versions of an article. We would additionally print a correction in the newspaper’s next edition.”
Emergency Management Agency Director Jamey Robinson reviewed a proposed budget with the commission. Among highlights of the budget, Robinson discussed staffing salaries and the need to bring some salaries more in line with typical salaries. Outgoing County Supervisor Mike Vander Molen expressed a concern with increasing salaries all at once, noting that some of the increases could be upwards of a 25% increase. Vander Molen suggested tapering in some of the significant increases.
Robinson also talked about the possibility of applying to have the 911 center “accredited,” which could assist dispatchers when taking calls. He noted that few centers throughout the state are currently accredited. Robinson also discussed the need to add sirens into other areas of the county, such as Leighton, Peoria, Keomah Village, Eveland Access, and Bluff Creek. He noted that this would likely be a multi-year plan. He also stated that the commission will need to look at upgrading the Oskaloosa siren system, noting that it is currently and older system. He said that by upgrading the system to newer technology, it could increase its’ coverage area, while reducing the number of sirens by one.
Robinson said that the proposed budget includes all items, except the adding of sirens in various portions of rural Mahaska County. He said that the current tax levy from the commission is 88 cents per thousand. The proposed budget would increase that amount to $1.09 per thousand.
Before any approval can be given to the budget, it must go throw publication as well as public hearings early next year.
In other action, Robinson reported that the 911 center recently received a dollar for dollar matching grant in the amount of $122,570. He said that the grant will help for the 911 center to implement a Zetron Max Dispatch system.
At Robinson’s recommendation, the commission voted unanimously to approve the sale and disposal of a variety of equipment, including several older computers as well as the old CERT Team vehicle, which had previously been the Mahaska County K9 Unit vehicle.
Robinson also provided the commission with an update on a Hazmat call that Emergency Management responded to. Robinson said that a semi spilled diesel on Highway 23 after the bleeder tubes on a diesel trailer were ripped off. 40 bags of oil dry were used, as well as clean up and containment of dirt that had diesel spilled on it. Robinson said that the truck owner was billed for the clean-up.
The next meeting of the Mahaska County Emergency Management Commission will be on December 8 at 6 p.m. in the Oskaloosa Public Library third floor meeting rooms.
**This story was updated on November 18th with a comment from Jeff Forward, regional editor at the Oskaloosa Herald.
