DeKalb Times

DeKalb County Emergency Telephone System Board met April 7.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Leverton called the meeting to order at 3:00pm.

a. Board Members Present:

Bianchi, Frazier, McMaster, Hanson, Plote, Polarek, Redel, and Leverton.

b. Board Members Absent:

Grandgeorge, Phillips

c. Guests Present:

Chief Deputy Andy Sullivan, Lt Van Bomar, and Sgt. Steve Rubeck, DeKalb County Sheriff Department; Sean Woyna, DeKalb Police Department; Diane Leifheit and Kathy Lampkins, DeKalb County Board.

d. Also Present:

Becky Springer, DeKalb County Treasurer; Glenna Johnson, Former E9-1-1 Coordinator; Heather Butler, E9-1-1 Coordinator

2. Agenda

a. Leverton asked for any amendments to the agenda. A motion was made by Polarek and seconded by Bianchi to approve the agenda. A roll call vote was taken; Bianchi- Y, Hanson- Y, McMaster – Y, Plote- Y, Polarek- Y, Redel – Y, Leverton - Y. The motion passed.

3. General Meeting Minutes:

a. A motion to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2021 meeting was made by Hanson and seconded by Plote. A roll call vote was taken; Bianchi- Y, Hanson- Y, McMaster – Y, Plote- Y, Polarek- Y, Redel – Y, Leverton - Y. The motion passed.

4. Public Comment- None

5. Treasurer’s Report

a. Monthly Treasurer’s Report- was presented and discussed.

a. A motion to approve the March 2021 monthly report was made by Polarek and seconded by Bianchi. A roll call vote was taken; Bianchi- Y, Hanson- Y, McMaster – Y, Plote- Y, Polarek- Y, Redel – Y, Leverton - Y. The motion passed.

b. Approval of Bills

Bills Paid in April 2021

Vendor 

DCLEEA $145.00

PowerPhone $1,245.00

Sikich $5,000.00

City of DeKalb $205,000.00

Promos 911 $722.28

Frontier $61.80

Swedberg Electric Inc $46,313.00

Tunnel to Towers $50.00

First National Bank $3,511.02

City of DeKalb $5,000.00

Voiance $39.06

IDPH $150.00

Total $267,237.16

A motion to pay the April bills was made by Plote and seconded by Redel. A roll call vote was taken; Bianchi- Y, Hanson- Y, McMaster – Y, Plote- Y, Polarek- Y, Redel – Y, Leverton - Y. The motion passed.

6. Radio Report

a. Sullivan reported there was damage to the Waterman tower that needs repair before mounting the new antenna. Hopefully installed by end of April.

b. BDA was received for City, install in next week or so.

c. Microwave link was needed, almost completed.

7. Grant Status

a. Coordinator Butler reported other agencies are learning of their awards for the NG Grant, county completed ICQ required, hopeful we will hear any day on our status. 

b. Consolidation grant quarterly filings are due end of April.

8. NG911 Update

a. Coordinator Butler advised the PBX at DeKalb City has been integrated into the Solacom system. Per Leverton the dispatchers like the integration/transition.

b. Working on phase 2 testing place, may be asking for help from fire and police agencies with the testing process as it involves multiple calls to test landline, wireless, and VoIP lines a crossed the county.

9. Rapid SOS – questions/answers from last month’s meeting were presented. Leverton commented this would be beneficial to the dispatchers.

A motion was made by Polarek to approve the quote received from Solacom for the RapidSOS integration, seconded by Hanson. A roll call vote was taken; Bianchi- Y, Hanson- Y, McMaster – Y, Plote- Y, Polarek- Y, Redel – Y, Leverton - Y. The motion passed.

10. Legislation - Several SAB meetings since last month. HB3702(amended the Emergency Telephone System Act) passed in committed knowing there would be amendments filed after some definitions are cleaned up along with wording for TC training. They are working on 2-3 sections and hope to have it done by the end of April.

11. Participating Agency Request –

a. Leverton explained requests received. Read sec. 35 of admin code that applies, we’ve known the ETSB can not pay for portables and can not consider pagers based on current statute language.

b. Plote questioned allowable expenses prior to 9-1-1 surcharge changes. Leverton advised last payment to a fire department was December 2015, board elected to stop in 2016. Plote questioned when surcharge is to end. Former Coordinator Johnson explained further, set to expire 12/2021 but attempting to extend to 12/2023.

c. McMaster questioned how we address or notify the agencies regarding this. Leverton will draft a letter to be sent to 2 agencies with requests along with the MABAS 6 President.

d. Plote questioned if our only income is the 9-1-1 surcharge, some think the surcharge is an extra amount. This is our boards only income, we do not run either center, do not and can not charge departments for services.

12. Coordinator’s Report –

a. Coordinator Butler reported State questioning our AFR report and our lump sum amounts for “Dispatch Services”. Report was resubmitted including this amount as TC wages, they would like to see something in writing explaining these amounts for next year. Possibly something for the budget committee to work on.

b. UPS is fully installed at County, will be working on moving 911 equipment over in the next week. COMMO room is nearly done and positions should be moved back upstairs in next few weeks.

13. Upcoming Vacant Positions –

a. Leverton comments on Phillips retiring from NIU PD, appreciates everything he has done for the board.

b. Polarek was approached for the vice-chair position, has agreed if board agrees. More formal discussion next month.

c. Anyone else interested in being more involved, fill vacant positions, contact Leverton. d. Leverton commented these positions are not vacant often, tabled until next month for nominations.

14. Old Business- None

15. New Business

a. McMaster thanked Coordinator Butler for quickly handling a 911 VoIP issue with MetroNet. Butler explained the situation.

b. Coordinator Butler advised the board next week is National Public Safety Telecommunicatior Week, TC’s will be receiving their gifts from the board, pictures were sent to board via email. Remember to thank them for all they do, hard year on dispatch.

16. ADJOURNMENT- Plote moved to adjourn the meeting and the motion was seconded by Hanson. A roll call vote was taken; Bianchi- Y, Hanson- Y, McMaster – Y, Plote- Y, Polarek- Y, Redel – Y, Leverton - Y. The motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 3:51pm.

https://dekalbcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/min21-e911apr.pdf