COUNTIES FIRE DISPATCH PLAN APPROVED
Plans for setting up a new regional fire dispatch system for Prescott-Russell should be underway before the end of the year.
The United Counties of Prescott-Russell council (UCPR) approved a resolution during its June 27 session concerning the new regional fire dispatch system. The resolution includes recommendations from an administration report on the planned new system based on a review-and-information session during a May 29 special session of UCPR council.
Turris Communications Inc. will set up the new regional dispatch system. The company was one of three bidders for the project and presented the best and most cost-efficient proposal to meet all the needs for the region. Bill Harvey, who was hired to serve as the UCPR’s project manager for the new system, will negotiate final terms of the agreement between Turris Communications and the UCPR. The goal is to have a managed system fire dispatch setup in place this year, with each municipality giving formal approval to hand over management and financial cost for fire dispatch for its area to the UCPR over the summer. The original proposal called for having all municipalities confirm the transfer during July, but Clarence-Rockland Mayor Guy Desjardins indicated that may not be possible for his council.
The managed system setup will cost $3.5 million, with the UCPR budgeting the cost at $350,000 over a 10-year period starting in the 2019 counties budget. The counties will also budget $50,000 for Harvey’s services as project manager and also for any equipment upgrades needed. If there is any surplus at the end of this year from the 2018 counties budget, that money may be used towards the project manager’s fee and the first payment on the new fire dispatch setup.