Emergency volunteer claims serious problems with county communications
By MATT NEWHOUSE
Staff writer
A lack of information and cooperation from the Marion County Communications Department is causing serious problems, a fire and ambulance volunteer told county commissioners Monday.
"The problems we're having are, I feel, very severe," said Ron Mueller, who has spent 10 years with county emergency medical services and as a volunteer firefighter.
Communications director Michele Abbott-Becker, who was at the meeting for another agenda item, didn't comment at the meeting.
Later, she said she would address the points on Friday, when the commission meets again, but would request that they be handled as personnel issues in an executive session.
"I'm choosing not to make any public comment at this point," she said.
Commissioners took no immediate action but said they likely would ask County Attorney Susan Robson to review the matter.
Seven areas
Mueller identified seven areas of concern:
1. Communication problems in Marion County, particularly the inability of handheld radios to reach the dispatch center in Marion.
2. Use of 911 funds for equipment and other expenses not allowed by law.
3. Improper makeup of the communications advisory board. The majority of the board consists of law enforcement officers, because Abbott-Becker said state law required it. Mueller said this isn't true.
4. A topographic study costing $600 was approved without seeking bids.
5. When Mueller requested a copy of the study, he was told he would have to pay photocopying charges, even though he is a member of the communications committee making recommendations based on the study.
6. The advisory committee has not met as required or held election of officers as required by bylaws.
7. Abbott-Becker assisted at a bank robbery investigation and uses a sheriff's patrol pickup, though the communications office is separate from the sheriff.
Mueller said part of the problem is a "conflict of interest" because Abbott-Becker is communications director and her husband, Lee, is county sheriff.
Communications used to be part of the sheriff's responsibilities. Commissioners made them separate departments in part so Becker would not have direct oversight of his wife's duties, which would violate county nepotism policies.
Mueller said there were incidents such as Abbott-Becker driving a sheriff's patrol truck to meetings.
Communication breakdown
Mueller said communication problems in northern Marion County have been a problem for years, and that a repeater installed 10 years ago is inadequate to the task.
Too many times, he said, dispatchers in Marion report not hearing incoming transmissions from volunteers in the northern part of the county.
"The biggest problem northern Marion County faces is that Marion County Communications is not able to hear us," he said. "I don't know if this is politics or hardware."
He said this problem must be fixed before funds go to upgrading the system to track cell phone calls. He said the cell phone tracking system is not a federal mandate.
"It doesn't help if you have the fanciest 911 cellular tracking equipment and the best dispatchers in the world, if you can't communicate properly," Mueller said.
Advisory board issues
Several of Mueller's complaints dealt with the communications advisory board.
Abbott-Becker said state law required the board to have at least 51 percent of its members in law enforcement.
Mueller said he was unable to find that law on the books. He asked that either the law be produced, or the board be reformed with EMS, fire, and law enforcement each having equal representation.
The geographical study was approved by the county commission though the communications board had decided not to recommend one, Mueller said. Further, another company said it would have offered such a study for free but wasn't asked to bid.
Mueller said he asked for a copy of the study, since only a single copy had been available at the meeting. He presented a copy of an e-mail from Sheriff Becker, who is chairman of the advisory board. In it, Becker says the board has no funds, and costs for photocopying were 25 cents per page for black and white, $1 per page for color, and $5 for making copies.
"I've never been on a board that wasn't able to get ahold of copies," Mueller said. "That just blows my mind."
Kansas Open Records Act says fees may be requested by agencies. However, it also says most records must be produced within three working days from when the request is received, or that a written explanation for the delay or denial is issued.
Commission response
After Mueller finished his presentation, Chairman Bob Hein thanked him for the presentation but had no other comment at that point.
Much later in the meeting, Wetta asked "what are we going to do here, turn it over to the county attorney, or ask the sheriff and communications director in for their response?"
Hein said he thought the issue should be turned over to the county attorney.
Collett had no comment. However, he said earlier in the meeting that his main concern was that poor radio transmissions existed in part of the county, even after years of discussion.
"If we're having trouble communicating, we need to get it solved," he said.
