HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 06-13-2022911 COMMUNICATIONS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE June 13, 2022
At a Regular Meeting of the 911 Communications Oversight Committee on Monday, June 13,
2022, at 1:30 p.m., in the Commission Chambers of City Hall located at 300 South 5th Street the
following Committee members were present: Dr. Irvin Smith, Jewel Jones, and Kevin Kauffeld
(3). Commissioner Carol Gault and Commissioner Eddie Jones were absent (2). Chairperson
Kevin Kauffeld presided.
Also present were Police Chief Brian Laird; Fire C hief Steve Kyle; Communications Manager
Pam Spencer; Controller Audra Herndon; Judge Executive Craig Clymer; Deputy Judge
Executive Steve Doolittle; and City Clerk Lindsay Parish.
City Clerk Lindsay Parish took the minutes of the meeting.
APPROVE MINUTES
Jewel Jones offered motion, seconded by Dr. Irvin Smith to amend the minutes of May 23,
2022, to add language about a small working group meeting to work with Federal
Engineering on the development of the Request for Proposals. All in favor.
Jewel Jones offered motion, seconded by Dr. Irvin Smith, to adopt the minutes of May 23,
2022 as amended. All in favor.
UPDATE ON RFP PROCESS & TIMELINE
Police Chief Brian Laird provided the following update:
The small working group has been meeting virtually with Federal Engineering. The working
group will meet with Federal Engineering on June 14, 2022. The needs for the upgraded radio
system are being reviewed by the small group. The group has had several questions, which
Federal Engineering is working to answer. A draft RFP is expected within the next 30-45 days,
which will be brought back to the committee for review. Once the RFP is released, the process
will take approximately 4 months.
DR. IRVIN SMITH COMMENTS
The small working group has had two (2) good meetings with Federal Engineering to date and
has received a lot of answers to questions. The RFP is a very technical document and Federal
Engineering is helping the working group take the needs for the upgraded system and put that
information into the technical specifications. The group will be asking Federal Engineering about
the 95% reliability standard and what that standard means for actual structures in McCracken
County.
CHAIRPERSON KAUFFELD COMMENTS
The 911 Communications Oversight Committee needs to continue discussions to find a funding
source while the RFP process is ongoing. The charge of the Committee is to present options with
funding needs to the City and County to operate the 911 system. The Commit tee will address the
funding needs for the 911 upgrade and the governance of 911 at future meetings.
911 COMMUNICATIONS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE June 13, 2022
UPDATE ON FUNDING OPTIONS
Chairperson Kauffeld updated the Committee on funding options. He has reached out to Stacey
Blankenship and she has provided the group with information from other counties. Chairperson
Kauffeld is going to gather more information by setting a meeting with Deputy Judge Executive
Steve Doolittle and Finance Director Jon Perkins. Chairperson Kauffeld also intends to reach out
to Hardin County to gain more information on their 911 parcel fee.
JUDGE EXECUTIVE CLYMER COMMENTS
Judge Executive Craig Clymer offered the following comments:
He Thanked the committee for the time and effort they have devoted to this important endeavor.
He wants the very best system for the City and the County. He is concerned that a push for
urgency will prevent the Committee from looking at all possibilities and doing all of the
necessary due diligence. With his background in Law Enforcement, his primary concern is that
the City and County have the best 911 system. He agrees with moving forward but not at the risk
of overlooking possibilities. He commented that he disagrees with the statements made at the
last meeting related to failure of the Windows XP system and that there are backups in place. He
also disagrees with the civil liability issue that was brought up at the previous meeting because
Government officials have sovereign immunity in their governmental capacities. The most
important consideration is that the citizens and public safety employees are protected. The City
and the County signed Memorandums of Understanding to work together on the Sports Complex
and the 911 Upgrade. The City has taken the position that it will not go forward with the Sports
Complex Interlocal Agreement until the 911 Radio System Upgrade Interlocal Agreement is also
in place. He urged that the Sports Complex Interlocal Agreement is ready to go and will provide
tourism and benefit to the community. The Judge urged the Committee to continue their work,
but that the sense of urgency should prevent full due diligence.
CHAIRPERSON KAUFFELD COMMENTS
Chairperson Kauffeld reassured the group that the Committee will do all necessary due diligence.
The role of the Committee is to research and make recommendations to the City and the County.
The City Commission and County Fiscal Court must make the final decisions related to the 911
System upgrade. All recommendations made to the City and County will be fully vetted.
JEWEL JONES COMMENTS
Jewel Jones asked for clarification from Judge Executive Clymer on his points related to liability
and Windows XP failure. The Judge clarified that if Windows XP fails, there are still handheld
radios and that the State can step in to assist. Related to liability issues, it is important to make
progress, but that if the system were to fail, government officials have sovereign immunity.
NEXT MEETING
The Committee concurred that they would have a Special Called Meeting on June 21st at 1:30
p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall.
911 COMMUNICATIONS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE June 13, 2022
ADJOURN
Mr. Jewel Jones offered motion, seconded by Dr. Irvin Smith to adjourn the meeting. All in
favor.
ADOPTED: June 21, 2022