Cass County residents will have to wait a little longer for the new combined dispatch center to go into operation.
Problems with phone service vendor AT&T;, which serves 350 residents in northern Cass County, has delayed the start date from Jan. 1 to at least Jan. 12.
AT&T; confirmed to the combined dispatch board that the company will fail to meet the Dec. 29 deadline to update equipment in the Twelve Mile area that matches the address and telephone number of a 911 call.
The specialist engineer who was supposed to conduct the work is currently on vacation and will not return in time to complete the upgrade before Dec. 29.
Eric Hartman, business development manager of INdigital, the company working with the county on the project, said he was disappointed by the delay, but relieved by the additional time the project now has.
“It is disappointing because a lot of the vendors we are working with put in a lot of effort to make the changes,” Hartman said. “They were putting in 12- and 14-hour days last week to meet the deadline. ... But on the bright side, it has given us a chance to re-test the equipment and with the ice storm last week we saw how the surroundings of the building stood up. ... I just felt that everyone was trying to put square pegs into round holes. The delay gives us a chance to relax and get the work done smoothly.”
Hartman added that he expects AT&T; to complete the work by Jan. 5, which will allow the combined dispatch to go ahead on Jan 12. He warned, however, that this was still a provisional start date
“No date is set in stone yet,” he said.
Ron Miller, chairman of the Enhanced 911 governing board, said the delay was not a big deal and the combined dispatch center would wait until every resident had access to emergency services.
“It is a small number, but any small number is too many,” he said. “We can’t take the risk to leave people without access to 911. AT&T; made a commitment to meet a deadline. But when it got to crunch time, something happened, and they were no longer able to commit.”
Miller said that combined dispatch staff would use the extra time for training.
Combined dispatch director Lori Forrer said city and county dispatch operators will continue separate operations until the new center is fully operational.
“It is not real big problem for us, it’s just something we did not anticipate happening,” Forrer said. “We need to make sure that any 911 calls are directed to us. There are specially qualified people that do this, and a lot of things for 911, and we have to wait until they are available.”
Forrer remained positive about the delay, adding that the center had already tested the new radios and would continue with testing the technical side of the operations until after Christmas.
“It’s more of a good thing,” she said. “It allows us to slow down and take a breath.”
Kevin Smith can be contacted at (574) 732-5148 or via e-mail at kevin.smith@pharostribune.com
Local News
Combined dispatch center delayed
<b>AT&T will miss deadline to update equipment around Twelve Mile</b>
- Local News
-
-
No jail for driver in fatal hit-and-run
A 25-year-old Logansport man admitted Thursday to leaving the scene of a deadly wreck last year, but he will not serve any time in jail as the result of a plea agreement.
-
Board backs 51 percent spike in utility rates
For Paul Hartman, the issue facing the Logansport Stormwater Management Board is pretty simple.
-
13-foot statue celebrating arts to stand in Logan
Logan’s Landing danced a little closer Thursday to sprucing up the downtown area and crafting the arts and design district it’s been longing to create.
-
Stormwater board OKs rate increase
The Logansport Stormwater Management Board this morning approved a 51 percent increase in its monthly rates.
-
LHS senior prank
As a senior prank, Logansport High School students moved the cow from in front of Happy Burger West to the Berry Bowl this morning. It was all in good fun, though. Bob Shanks, the owner of Happy Burger, was even on hand to pose for pictures.
-
‘It’s not about you’: Local mom shares journey of adopting foster children
Foster parenting isn’t always easy, says Juanita Jackson. Between caseworker visits and baby-sitting restrictions, the 42-year-old balances work and caring for five children as a single mom.
-
Longtime Lewis Cass teacher fired over license
Notwithstanding the impassioned pleas on Scott Rouch’s behalf, the Southeastern school board unanimously voted to cancel his teaching contract for “neglect of duty and other just causes.”
-
Jeremy Franklin charged with two felonies
A special prosecutor this week filed three charges, including two felony counts, against the son of the Logansport mayor.
-
Logan multiplex still in the works
Plans for a multiplex in Logansport are still in the works, but at least one city official hoped the process would move a bit quicker.
-
Ambulances moving: Hospital says change will save $200,000
Rural/Metro, Cass County’s newest ambulance service, told Logansport Memorial Hospital that it plans to move out of the ambulance garage at the end of its lease in September.
- More Local News Headlines
-
No jail for driver in fatal hit-and-run
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
