May 14, 1998

Meeting was called to order by Janelle Pepple, President at 8:00 A.M. Round Table introductions were made(see attached for members in attendance).

APCO Conference Update: Gayla Meier & DuWayne Nicholson gave an update on the progress of the APCO Conference that will be in Williston on June 23-25, 1998. There is a summer promotion for new APCO members...any dispatcher attending APCO for the first time at this June Conference will receive a one year membership free. For more information please contact Gayla Meier at 776-5399.

Dispatcher Workload Survey: Jerry Bergquist talked about a survey that was designed to gather workload and pay scale information of dispatchers from all the Dispatch Centers in the state. This is an attempt to find out if dispatchers are being fairly paid according to their work responsibilities and to get their profession respected & recognized pay-scale-wise within the State of North Dakota. Once this survey is finished copies will be mailed out to all 24-hour Dispatch Centers within the state.

UND-Lake Region Dispatching Program Update: Janelle Morgan the 911 Dispatch Program Director at UND-Lake Region gave an update on the progress of the 911 Dispatching Course, due to start this fall at UND-Lake Region. This course is one semester long and students wanting to get into this course will be tested and a criminal background investigation will be made on qualifying students. Students will also be subject to an oral interview & a drug test. NCIC training will only be available at the end of the course to students that have secured a job & jailer training will be an elective course. Please note that on a continuing education basis all dispatchers, 911 Coordinators or anyone working in the Public Safety Profession are welcome to come to any part of this course. Janelle is looking for any Dispatch Centers that would agree to make tapes of 911 &/or service calls for use in the classroom. Also any videos that might be of use. Please call Janelle for further information or comments at 1-800-443-1313 ext. 514 or 701-662-1514. (Also enclosed is the brochure that will be used to advertise for this class.)

Rollover Policy Survey: Shelly Arnold, the State Trauma Coordinator, from the ND Dept. of Health talked to us about the survey that was sent out to all (22) 24-hour Dispatch Centers, asking what policy was presently in place to handle rollover accidents. The reason behind this survey was because Shelly had received three (3) different phone calls on concerns regarding rollover accidents from three (3) separate ambulance services within the State. These concerns were taken to the State Trama Committee and they wrote up the survey. This Committee will now take the survey information and write up a recommendation or guide of how rollover accidents should be handled. This recommendation will be sent to all ambulance services and dispatch centers within the State. The membership showed interest in knowing more about the process the Trama Committee went through, so Shelly said she would send copies of the minutes of these meetings to Carmen and then Carmen could give a summary of these minutes to the Association at the next meeting. But if anyone would like to get on the mailing list to get these minutes call

Shelly at (701) 328-2388 or fax her at (701) 328-1890 or email her at msmail.shellya@ranch.state.nd.us.

Business Meeting:

Janelle Pepple called the meeting to order. Motion was made by Ken Halverson to approve the last Minutes. This Motion was seconded by Fred Debowey. All Members were in favor, motion was passed.

Financial report was given as a balance of $4,262.55. (See Enclosure)

Thanks was given to Jerry Bergquist for hosting the meeting in Jamestown.

Thanks was given to Pete Eggimann for suggesting the Seminar on Wireless 911 by Paul Linnee of GeoComm. The Association will be sending out a thank you note also to Mr. Linnee.

Del Johnston gave an update on the Wireless Committee progress. Del believes strongly that something has to be done. Wireless users are piggybacking on wired line users. Last year cellular phone use grew by 35%, wired line use grew by only 4%. Jerry Bergquist stated that last year 27% of his 911 calls were cellular calls. Jerry Bergquist made a motion to develop a legislative committee to work on legislation to be introduced in the next legislative session. Ken Halverson seconded this motion. All members were in favor. Motion was passed. Jerry Bergquist & Pete Eggimann volunteered to be co-chairs of this committee. Other volunteers were as follows, Fred Debowey, Del Johnston, Gary Kostelecky. Anyone else wanting to be a working member of this committee please contact one of the co-chairmen.

Old Business:

On the question asked at the last meeting regarding what type of information can be given out from an in-house 911 database, nothing has been heard. (Tom Sorensen had made a motion to get the Attorney General’s Opinion on the Century Code 57-40.6-06. &.07.)

Rick Hessinger, who could not be present at this meeting, had checked on having the State handle the 911 Association monies to take liabilites off of the Association. It was decided by the members present to have Rick check with a private lawyer to see what it would take to become non-profit organization.

Janelle Pepple asked if she still needed to write a letter to State Radio requesting more NCIC training sessions. The members present decided that it was not necessary because two classes are scheduled in June.

New Business:

Brent Nelson made a motion to have the ND 911 Association pay for five (5) EMD refresher courses per year, around the State. This means that if you would like to host an EMD Refresher Course at your Center, and advertise to neighboring Dispatch Centers, the ND 911 Association will pay the $100 fee that Derrick Hanson charges. You first have to contract Carmen Reed/Secretary/Treasurer to get the ok, then you must contact Derrick Hanson to set up the training day. Your expense will be Derrick’s mileage & motel costs(required for more than 60-70 miles away). Derrick has no minimum number of students, but there is a maximum of 30 students per class. Jerry Schempp seconded this motion. All members in favor, motion was passed.

Jerry Bergquist made a motion to have the APCO Board & the ND 911 Association Board meet on handling the APCO 40 Hour Course. Tom Sorenson seconded this motion. All members in favor, motion was passed.

Al Hanson made a motion to have Carmen pay Dennis Smetana, APCO Instructor, only the amount of funds collected at the class, then reimburse Dennis as funds are collected. Ken Halvoson seconded this motion. All members in favor, motion was passed.

Pete Eggimann made a motion to allow Carmen to purchase a tape recorder with a cap of $100, for taking minutes at our meetings. Gayla Meier seconded this motion. All members in favor, motion was passed.

Round Table Discussion.

Next meeting will be in Dickinson & will be hosted by Gary Kostelecky, the Stark/Dunn County 911 Coordinator.

Members will be notified when a day & time is set. ANYONE WITH TRAINING IDEAS FOR THE NEXT MEETING PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!! THANKS!

Meeting Adjourned at 12:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted

 

Carmen Reed

Secretary/Treasurer