“DISPATCHERS
SAVE SECONDS – SECONDS SAVE LIVES”
October 9th City Council
Meeting served as eye opener as to what it means to MAGNIFY YOUR CALLING. My friends, at my age and with the many years
I have spent in Public Service…..It takes a lot for me to get excited or be
overly impressed with a City Employee….. Merely Doing His or
Her Job.
After all it’s what they get paid to do and what is expected…..No more, No
Less.
City employees routinely report to work
each day 24/7 and carry-out their assigned duties. We take it for granted…..As
a matter of course that they will be there for us. (We
need to be there for them with appropriate Bench Marks for salary &
benefits).
This Council Meeting brought forth the
Men and Women that comprise the SGPD DISPATCHERS. YES,
I
was amazed and excited to see and learn that in fact….. State of the Art
equipment has been placed in the capable hands of highly qualified individuals.
Entry level testing for Dispatchers and ongoing training assures those entrusted
to provide Life Saving measures are up to the job. I attest to you that this
position IS highly stressful requiring multi-tasking skills, a quick/alert mind
and a resilient body.
Being the largest city in this neck of
the woods places a duty and responsibility on SGPD which our City Government
has recognized and embraced. City leadership thus has authorized SGPD to serve
as the leader of Public Safety Dispatch Services…..Working in conjunction with
Washington County and surrounding communities…..SGPD DISPATCHERS serve with
distinction in making sure help is there when YOU need it.
Did you know that SGPD Dispatchers
process 250,000 incoming calls per year with SG City having 80,000 calls for
service…..Not to mention the number of outgoing calls required to help those in
need. 95.5% of ALL calls are answered in 5 seconds……Far exceeding
expectations.
GPS is a game changer for Dispatcher’s…..Capabilities
exist
to
see on screen where call originated.(Before and
After call received) Cell phones have made it
possible to see in real time where emergency units are to respond or where they
are located. State of the Art equipment is located within OUR Police Department
and Fire Station 7 connecting entire State of Utah to SGPD Dispatchers. A total
of 96 Channels are available to bring our community into the State Wide loop of
Emergency Services.
This of course makes possible a more
effective inter-connecting Ambulance-Emergency Medical Dispatching Service.
Mayor Pike reported that in two weeks or about the 30th of this
month the final agreement with Gold Cross Ambulance will be presented to the
Council for approval. It’s taken a long time but the City will now be in a
better position to monitor and evaluate Ambulance Service. It was time well
spent and the hard work of the City Attorney’s Office is appreciated.
This Council Meeting in my estimation
was a BIG STEP into the world of TRANSPARENCY for City Government. For you see
the Council Agenda presented by the Mayor and City Manager not only revealed
SGPD Dispatchers but also made transparent the terms of the proposed purchase
agreement with Island Trading Company, LLC, for property owned by the City (Our
Public Property) located adjacent to the
Dixie Center. Approx. 13.4 acres sold at
price of $10.50 sq. ft. 10% Down Payment. ($60l, 000
at closing) City is to finance balance at 4%
interest with 10 year Pay-out. (One
year, from closing date to start payment). Also
included is option to buy 2.7 acres of additional property located nearby at
$12.00 sq. ft. Intent of Council/City Manager….. Is that said property to be
compatible with Dixie Center and entrance to city. (Zoned
C-3 City intends to cross off uses we don’t want to see in this particular area).
Buyer
has 90 days for corrections and is to come back for final approval. (Buyer
requested to use re-use water at site. Development is to be entertainment
based, possibly a Restaurant or Water Park).
Folks, we need transparency to
continue….. Transparency helps the City to keep its skirts clean and protects
the public from abuse of power. We need to know what in the world is going on
with the delay of Code Enforcement Reform and The Airport Board and the Power
and Energy Board. I have come to suspect that a Human Relations Commission is
being stymied as it fosters TRANSPARENCY.
Thank you, ED
BACA
No comments:
Post a Comment