CHIMACUM — Jefferson and Clallam County officials are discussing the possibility of combining emergency dispatch operations into a regional dispatch center for the whole North Olympic Peninsula — but both sides are stressing that nothing is set in stone.
On Tuesday morning, the JeffCom 9-1-1 Communications board — which oversees policy for Jefferson County’s emergency dispatch operation — voted unanimously to support Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict in exploring the feasibility of combining operations between JeffCom, based in Port Hadlock, and Pen Com — or Peninsula Communications, based in Port Angeles — Clallam County’s dispatch.
Benedict presented the possible scenario to the board, saying that it could be beneficial if the two groups combined into one regional dispatch operation.
“I’m only interested if the level of service can be maintained or improved upon,” Benedict said, “and if it costs no more than it currently does.”
Benedict said he believed both of those qualifications may exist.
A study into the possibility was conducted in 2001, when combining operations was last discussed.
Benedict said that, in that report, the two infrastructure issues holding back a feasible merger were lack of proper microwave connections and redundant phone lines.
Those two problems have been fixed, Benedict said.
“The report also comes to the conclusion that the political realities of the situation meant it wasn’t going to happen,” Benedict said.
“But if we combined, we could save on equipment costs, save on software costs and save on personnel costs.”
New study
The next step would require a study to be conducted. Benedict said he is looking into how to conduct such a study — be it internally or by contracting out to a third party.
“All I want is to know if you are interested,” Benedict said. “It’s no cost to you for us to look at it.”
Board members agreed that they are interested in learning more but emphasized they are not agreeing to merge.
Port Ludlow Fire Chief Ed Wilkerson asked that the report explore including other nearby counties, such as Kitsap and Island.
“On behalf of the fire chiefs, I’d like to say we’re supportive,” he said.
“The important thing for us is, we want to see an improvement overall.”
Location
The location of the combined operation is still a matter for discussion.
Benedict said he is willing to consider locations in either county.
Clallam County Fire District 3 Chief Steve Vogel introduced one location his district owns as a possibility.
“We bought 11.5 acres in Carlsborg that is zoned for public use,” Vogel said. “We decided to put all the infrastructure in the ground and get it ready for use.”
The district, which serves Sequim and east Clallam County, planned a fire building, a training area, an administrative facility and a shop on the property.
“We could also look at putting the [emergency operations center] and dispatch there,” Vogel said.
JeffCom employs up to 11 dispatchers. Equipment and facilities were upgraded in 2004. It shares a building with Jefferson County’s jail and, according to Director Donna Hamlin, “are happy with where they are at.”
Although Hamlin said she believes the operation has room to expand in the future if needed, she said that if a regional configuration could save money, she would consider it.
Pen Com is going through growing pains, Benedict said.
The current location in the Port Angeles Police Department is not large enough for future growth, and the operation would have to be moved whether a merger between the counties takes place or not.
No time line is set for the process of exploring the merger. But Benedict said he hoped to have a proposal in the next 120 days to apply for possible federal stimulus money.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
