DOTHAN – HOUSTON COUNTY: Last evening during the weather reports are lightning struck the operations of the Dothan – Houston County Communications District building.
With the lightning strike of the Dothan – Houston County Communications District Building it caused the computerized system to go down. This forced all operations back to pen and paper. So during the storm striking and things happening everywhere those in the 911 Center stepped up to the plate and you would have never known they were thrown a curve from the system as they know to pen and paper.
The system in Dothan – Houston County is a screwy system. (1) Dothan – Houston County Communications District Board owns the building and the equipment such as the Computer Aided Dispatch system. (2) The dispatchers work for (a) Dothan Police (b) Houston County Sheriff. None other 911 dispatchers work for the Dothan – Houston County Communications District Board.
What was to be a JOINT communications center “ IS NOT” in anyway a “joint” communications center. It is a co-located but not joint. The Dothan – Houston County Communications District is managed by a board of 9 people, they only three people (1) Director (2) lady to input data and address (3) person to look after the building. They have zero management of any 911 dispatchers but own the equipment.
DOTHAN: The 911 dispatchers work for Dothan Police Department under the ultimate command of Dothan Police Chief Will Benny. There is a police captain and a communications center manager. They dispatch all of Dothan Police and Dothan Fire. Dothan Fire Chief sits on the 911 Board but has no command authority over the 911 dispatchers.
HOUSTON COUNTY: The 911 dispatchers work for Houston County Sheriff Department under the ultimate command of Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza. There is a captain in the Sheriff Department and communications center manager. They dispatch all of the Houston County Sheriff Deputies, all municipal police departments in Houston County ( with exception of Dothan Police ) which include Kinsey, Webb, Columbia, Gordon, Cottonwood, Ashford, and Taylor; all 17 Houston County Volunteer Fire Departments, and 5 Houston County EMS.
Both Dothan and Houston County have a ring down to Pilcher Ambulance when they are needed. This needs to be automated because over 200 man hours a year to get Pilcher Ambulance rolling when it could be automated.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Under the Alabama 911 laws Houston County has to pay rent for Emergency Management to be located in the Dothan – Houston County Communications District building. Unless a tornado or hurricane they do not have to be in that building. Houston County has to pay an estimated $ 130,000.00 plus/minus to be in that building. They could move out into an existing building and save at least $ 100,000.00 a year and operate in the building only in a tornado or hurricane. And they have operated remotely in the last storms. The Houston County Commission Chairman and Houston County Commission STOPPED Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management from responding and being proactive calling them a “planning agency” only. Some Mayors across the county have complained but this Houston County Commission Chairman and Commission are deaf and do not care. Not being critical of Mark Powell, but the county people do not know him and Emergency Management has become a useless agency, because that is the desire of the Houston County Commission Chairman and Houston County Commission – especially D3 Commissioner Ricky Herring. They need to move out and save $ 100,000.00 plus a year. So when commissioners say they are managing tax dollars, CALL THEM OUT… WASTING TAX DOLLARS!!!! Challenge me on it guys !!!
There is a wall ( when I was on the board I voted against ) between the Dothan 911 dispatchers and Houston County 911 dispatchers. As Ronald Regan said, TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!
The 911 center should be combined,, under one management. Because communications is the one single vital component that keeps the entire system operating and successful. But TURF prevents that from happening.
HATS OFF the the boots in the 911 center, you did a FANTASTIC JOB. Thrown a curve ball but the emergency system kept on ticking without delays.
NOTE: I served on the Dothan – Houston County Communications District Board, helped change the legislation, was on the board when the building was constructed, and former Chairman of the Board. When my term expired, not getting along with some Houston County Commissioners, especially D3 Ricky Herring, I rotated off and was not re-appointed. Which was fine with me because I could tell as it is.
