Copyright GeoComm, Inc. All rights reserved.
Local governments and public safety entities are not exempt from the
economic challenges presented today. As a result, government officials
are looking for ways to save money while continuing to provide their
communities with the same public safety services they have come to
expect. In an effort to provide the most cost effective services to their
communities, some municipalities are reviewing the feasibility of
consolidating Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) to save money.
Before a successful PSAP consolidation can be achieved several important items must be reviewed to determine the feasibility of merging multiple communication centers into one building. In mid-2009, six counties in Southwestern Minnesota (Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock counties) hired GeoComm to complete a study to assist in making these determinations. The six PSAPs in these counties answer a combined 250,000 calls per year and dispatch law enforcement, fire, and EMS responders to nearly 65,000 incidents per year. GeoComm approached this project in three phases. 1) Project Initiation and Data Gathering, 2) Data Review and Preliminary Findings, 3) Final Report and Presentation.
The Project Initiation and Data Gathering Phase began by reviewing the existing dispatch operations and 9-1-1 technology in each of the dispatch centers. This information was needed to achieve an in-depth understanding of each county's current dispatch services and operations. In order to properly gather the needed information, two data collection surveys were distributed to the 9-1-1 and dispatch centers in each of the counties. These surveys were used to collect various types of data relating to work loads, budgeting, cost modeling, current technology and capability, and normal staff schedules. This research helped GeoComm understand the unique and common tasks performed in each of the six dispatch centers. Another component of the initiation and data gathering stage was to assess the current and future technology opportunities within each of the communities affected by the possible consolidation. GeoComm surveyed each of the public safety agencies in each of the counties to determine the total radio inventory, as well as the frequencies, licensing, and information on radio system performance. Also taken into consideration were the recently completed -Minnesota Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) studies which some counties were implementing to comply with the fast approaching FCC 2013 narrowband mandate.
Once all of the Data Gathering was complete, Phase 2-Data Review and Preliminary Findings began. GeoComm compiled all of the information gathered in Phase 1 and began to look for similarities in each of the counties dispatch centers relating to system requirements, staffing needs, and operating costs and practices. After analyzing the data, preliminary findings were presented and discussed with representatives from all six counties. This discussion helped ensure that representatives from all six counties had input in the desired outcome and a time where any inconsistencies found during the data gathering phase could be discussed. GeoComm also addressed any questions the counties had and discussed with them the preliminary findings.
Following the preliminary meetings, GeoComm used all of the information gathered in Phase 1 and the new information obtained during the preliminary meetings in Phase 2 to complete Phase 3 which consisted of a final report and a presentation to all six counties. The report and presentation outlined the positives, negatives, and costs involved in the possibility of having one 9-1-1 dispatch center to serve the six counties. The report addressed the current status of 9-1-1 and dispatch center operations, expenditures, and equipment for the PSAPs within the six counties, and essentially developed a new organizational and operational model for one joint 9-1-1 dispatch center. It included recommendations on staffing, organization, funding, and a high-level outline of activities to assist the counties if they choose to consolidate.
“GeoComm was instrumental in helping us understand all of the components involved in a PSAP Consolidation project. The project team listened to our questions and concerns and addressed them throughout the project review and made recommendations for them in the project report. We are confident that the information GeoComm provided us will be a solid resource for us to reference when making future decisions about this PSAP Consolidation project,” Kyle Oldre, County Administrator, Rock County, Minnesota.
GeoComm supplied these six counties with quality data to make an educated decision on whether consolidating to one PSAP and sharing data over one interoperable system was the best decision for them. The counties are currently reviewing the information GeoComm provided them and determining the next steps in the consolidation project.
Before a successful PSAP consolidation can be achieved several important items must be reviewed to determine the feasibility of merging multiple communication centers into one building. In mid-2009, six counties in Southwestern Minnesota (Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock counties) hired GeoComm to complete a study to assist in making these determinations. The six PSAPs in these counties answer a combined 250,000 calls per year and dispatch law enforcement, fire, and EMS responders to nearly 65,000 incidents per year. GeoComm approached this project in three phases. 1) Project Initiation and Data Gathering, 2) Data Review and Preliminary Findings, 3) Final Report and Presentation.
The Project Initiation and Data Gathering Phase began by reviewing the existing dispatch operations and 9-1-1 technology in each of the dispatch centers. This information was needed to achieve an in-depth understanding of each county's current dispatch services and operations. In order to properly gather the needed information, two data collection surveys were distributed to the 9-1-1 and dispatch centers in each of the counties. These surveys were used to collect various types of data relating to work loads, budgeting, cost modeling, current technology and capability, and normal staff schedules. This research helped GeoComm understand the unique and common tasks performed in each of the six dispatch centers. Another component of the initiation and data gathering stage was to assess the current and future technology opportunities within each of the communities affected by the possible consolidation. GeoComm surveyed each of the public safety agencies in each of the counties to determine the total radio inventory, as well as the frequencies, licensing, and information on radio system performance. Also taken into consideration were the recently completed -Minnesota Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) studies which some counties were implementing to comply with the fast approaching FCC 2013 narrowband mandate.
Once all of the Data Gathering was complete, Phase 2-Data Review and Preliminary Findings began. GeoComm compiled all of the information gathered in Phase 1 and began to look for similarities in each of the counties dispatch centers relating to system requirements, staffing needs, and operating costs and practices. After analyzing the data, preliminary findings were presented and discussed with representatives from all six counties. This discussion helped ensure that representatives from all six counties had input in the desired outcome and a time where any inconsistencies found during the data gathering phase could be discussed. GeoComm also addressed any questions the counties had and discussed with them the preliminary findings.
Following the preliminary meetings, GeoComm used all of the information gathered in Phase 1 and the new information obtained during the preliminary meetings in Phase 2 to complete Phase 3 which consisted of a final report and a presentation to all six counties. The report and presentation outlined the positives, negatives, and costs involved in the possibility of having one 9-1-1 dispatch center to serve the six counties. The report addressed the current status of 9-1-1 and dispatch center operations, expenditures, and equipment for the PSAPs within the six counties, and essentially developed a new organizational and operational model for one joint 9-1-1 dispatch center. It included recommendations on staffing, organization, funding, and a high-level outline of activities to assist the counties if they choose to consolidate.
“GeoComm was instrumental in helping us understand all of the components involved in a PSAP Consolidation project. The project team listened to our questions and concerns and addressed them throughout the project review and made recommendations for them in the project report. We are confident that the information GeoComm provided us will be a solid resource for us to reference when making future decisions about this PSAP Consolidation project,” Kyle Oldre, County Administrator, Rock County, Minnesota.
GeoComm supplied these six counties with quality data to make an educated decision on whether consolidating to one PSAP and sharing data over one interoperable system was the best decision for them. The counties are currently reviewing the information GeoComm provided them and determining the next steps in the consolidation project.
Southwest Minnesota PSAP Consolidation Project
“GeoComm was instrumental in helping us understand all of the components involved in a PSAP
Consolidation project. The project team listened to our questions and concerns and addressed
them throughout the project review and made recommendations for them in the project report. We
are confident that the information GeoComm provided us will be a solid resource for us to
reference when making future decisions about this PSAP Consolidation project.”
– Kyle Oldre, County Administrator, Rock County, Minnesota
– Kyle Oldre, County Administrator, Rock County, Minnesota
Public Safety Consulting
Product Information