911 center reorganization in the works

An administrative reorganization of Flathead County’s 911 dispatch center has been approved by the Flathead County Commissioners and the 911 administrative board.

Talk about streamlining the center’s numerous boards and managers has been ongoing for more than a year. The recent departure of Flathead County Office of Emergency Services director Roger LaFerriere and 911 center manager Michelene Provo likely hastened the decision.

The 911 center’s finance director will now work under the county finance department. Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry will take over from the 911 center director the job of overseeing the Office of Emergency Services, the Fires Service Area manager and Emergency Medical Services.

The 911 center director will continue to oversee the dispatch center, radio communications, information technology and the county’s geographic information system. The 911 board approved a new job description for this position and began advertising for it with a $70,000 annual salary on May 9.

Curry said the reorganization will improve efficiency and save tax dollars. A review of the 911 center’s operations will be conducted in a few years.

“My plate is obviously pretty full,” Curry said, “but I can understand why the commissioners elected to do that.”

The nature of the 911 center’s administrative — and funding — problems stems from the complexity of the transition to new digital technology and the melding of the county’s dispatch center with the those in Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls.

A streamlined funding system for the 911 system is still being debated, while concerns have already surfaced about expensive communication upgrades in the not-to-distant future.