Carson City closer to getting dispatch system

Five months after Carson City supervisors decided which computer system to buy for the city's new emergency dispatch system, negotiations to purchase it are under way.

The $600,000 dispatch center in south Carson City is mostly complete, awaiting only a backup generator, the computer system and dispatchers to make it functional.

Which computer system to buy created a heated battle in January between computer users and those monitoring the costs of buying a new system. The argument centered on two systems, HTE being a cheaper system and Tiburon being more expensive but preferred by dispatch personnel. Supervisors ultimately approved the dispatchers' choice.

The battle has tempered considerably. The city recently paid $12,752 for Emmack Cronan Group Inc. from Reno to help negotiate the Tiburon contract.

Dispatchers are eager to get the new system. They now work with antiquated equipment in a converted shed at the sheriff's office.

"At least they've started negotiations. The longer they wait, the harder it is on the people in dispatch," said Laura Cadot, communications manager. "I don't know that they're working on this quick enough. We're dealing with a lot of problems in here. I still don't think the city understands the issues we're dealing with in here. They're trying at this point, but it's certainly not on what I would call the fast track.

"The sad side of this is we've been pushing for this for a long time, almost three years. At the time we started this project, we were in crisis. Every day we come in here and things are falling apart. Moral is poor. We're just hanging in there."

Information Services Director Bill Naylor said the city hired Emmack Cronan Group to make sure the city gets the system it wants.

"The more careful you are up front, the less trouble you'll have later," Naylor said. "It's very important we get a solid contract that will protect the city."

Naylor said a contract should be ready by mid-July. He estimated the dispatch computer would take about four months to install and could be running by December.

"That's optimistic, very optimistic," he said.

While negotiations aren't going as "fast as everyone would like," Naylor said the process to get the new system has been crawling along for months, including site visits to cities with a similar system, talks with Washoe County about using their dispatch system and eventually, hiring Emmack Cronan.

"Everybody would like this thing to go faster, but I don't think the timing is all that bad," Naylor said. "The finer things are the things that take the time. You've got to cross all the t's and dot all the i's. You've got to make sure the system functions properly and that the dispatchers are trained.

"This is a complex system and it has to do with public safety. We can't afford to make a mistake, so a little extra time to make sure everyone is trained properly can't hurt."

A full Tiburon system is estimated to cost $1.4 million, the basic system only $550,000. The city has a budget of $932,000 for the system.

The system was funded through the city's capital improvement program two years ago. Parks and Recreation Director Steve Kastens said at the time, dispatch proponents thought there would be a savings for the computer system. The capital improvement committee prioritized about $250,000 worth of projects in the event there was a savings from the dispatch system. The projects waiting for funding include paving the T-ball parking lot at Governor's Field, tiling the hallways at the Community Center, and a truck lift for vehicle maintenance among other items.

Kastens said he was hoping there would still be a savings from the dispatch system so the projects that have been waiting can be funded. Otherwise, the items will have to be resubmitted to fight for funding with other projects.