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Times-Advocate, 1983-07-20, Page 25Goderich emergoncy fire call service proposal put on hold A proposal to have Gcderiqh s emergency fire calls ankwered and dispatch- ed through the Huron Municipal Police Com- munications System has been put on hold pending further investigation. Representatives from the five county towns served by the communications system met at Goderich town hall last Wednesday to discuss the matter. While none of the other towns' representatives ex- pressed an interest in having their fire calls put through the central police dispatch system, they stated their con- cerns regarding Goderich's intention to do so. These concerns centred around the system's ability to BEEF CALVES — 4-H calf club members Martha Klapp, Mark Lansbergen and Mark Erb await the verdict of judge Bob Hern at the Zurich Fair. •in July • 50% Off All Christmas Decorations Selected Silk 1� Arrangements price Drop in for many more In Store Specials Hanging Green Plants 50% off glae Moweit PEDLAR FLORISTS 414 Main St.. Exeter, Ontario CENTRE MALL Phone: 235-0221 Centro Mall 420 Main Street. Exeter 235-1232 KITCHEN BATA GIFTWARE Summer Savings Outside UP TO 9:00 a.m. - 9 p. m. THURSDAY FRIDAY ONLY 50% OFF In -Store Stock 1100 ff handle the extra calls; the fee structure for the new set-up; and the manner in which the Goderich Police Commission made the decision to imple- ment the new set-up. Before making a final deci- sion on the proposal therefore, it was agreed to compile data from each of the towns, including the number of fire calls and the number of police calls received as well as some of the characteristics of these calls. This data will be presented at another meeting of the representatives in October along with input from the On- tario Fire Marshal's office and the Ontario Police Commission. The Huron Municipal Police Communications System became operational in April of 1979, providing 24-hour dispatch service to the five Huron County municipalities of Goderich', Clinton, Exeter, Seaforth and Wingham-serving a popula- tion of over 19,000. This system is comprised of nine police cruisers and 14 portable radios amongst the five forces. It was installed with the provincial govern- ment paying 75 percent of the costs and the five municipalities paying the rest on a per capita basis. On- going costs are also shared on a per capita basis. The systdm is housed in Goderico and manned by five dispatchers. In 1982. he total number of calls rete ived by all five municipalities whey. police were dispatched by radio to the scene was 6,723. This is not the total number of radio transmissions made. No figure is kept of these but it is estimated at least 30,000. In addition, several hun- dred enquiries which do not require police action, are answered by the dispatchers each year. The dispatchers also handle enquiries for the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) terminal in Ottawa. Goderich Fire Chief Bill Beacon estimates that there are about 60 fire calls in Goderich per year, not in- cluding the "no alarm" or non -emergency calls. At per - Never Before.... 44-ka,tekie-t SALE 25% to 50% Off Specially Selected Items Choose from a variety of nail polish and lipstick, blush, eye shadow, eye liner and more... Visit us during the Heritage Days sidewalk sale and we will be happy to show you our selection. Exeter Pharmacy Ltd. Moen Street 235.1570 at „el alues ; your dollar dreams abou .alai Whi, flac€e&€e'4 ALL Spring and Summer Stock 1/2 Price Shop in air conditioned comfort during Sidewalk Sale Days Thurs., Fri. 9 - 9 VISA Specialty Fashions For 16 20, 16''4 - 24'4, 38 - 44 Centre Mall, 420 Main St. Exeter • sent, these calls are answered by phones locted in six of the firemen's homes. Ken Anderson, chief dispat - cher for the police com- munications system, told the meeting that handling these additional fire calls would present a problem. "We don't expect an overload of calls but these things have a tendency to all happen at the same time," he said. He ex- plained that at the present time, two to three calls get stacked up during the days while Friday and Saturday nights "it's a madhouse." He warned that police calls may take less priority after the dispatchers start handling fire calls. He also expressed his concern over the characteristics of these calls since many of the callers are often in an agitated state and unable to give .the proper location of the fires. Wingham representative Jack Kopas said he felt more specific data was needed to ensure that the present system could accommodate. the fire calls, especially if the other towns decided to have their fire calls put through the police dispatch system at a future time. "We don't want a system that is going to disintegrate ...we want to make sure its present level is maintained," he said. Goderich Mayor , Eileen Palmer said at the time the central police dispatch system was installed, she remembered being told it could handle police, fire and PUC calls. Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake com- mented that maybe the equip- ment could handle the calls but "we don't know about the humans who have to handle the situation." Goderich Police Commis- sion Chairman Alvin McGee said, "The information we have learned here shows there is a larger workload in- volved than we first thought. It could mean additional staff or equipment." He then sug- gested putting the whole mat- ter "on hold" until further investigation. Goderich mayor Eileen Palmer told the other towns Clearance of our Summer Stock /3t0l/2Off Special Racks t)75%Off 10% Off Everything Else Open Thurs. & Fri. Until 9 I LITLE PEOPLE Infants to 14 WE KATER TO KIO$ 397 Main St.. Exeter Exeter 235-1113 Indulge Yourself July 22,23,24 During our Spectacular Summer Sidewalk Sale All Spring Summer Fashions ooking Wood FASHIONS FOR HER 375 Main Proms., Ex.hr 335.3440 represented that "we absorb the administration costs for the system and we feel we are doing everyone a favor." Goderich town clerk Larry McCabe, who estimated the administration costs between $5,000-$7,000 per year, said if any of the other towns wanted to look after the system's ad- ministration, they were welcome to it. "It's an unfor- Times-Advocate, July 20. 1983 Page 5A by county group: tunate set-up and it causes a tremendous number of headaches," he said. Originally, the communica- tions sytsem was set up as a .Huron County system in order to qualify for a provincial government grant. There was some argument at that time over where to house the com- mon system and Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake reminded the meeting that his town had been a contender. Wingham representative Jack Kopas said he was not concerned with Goderich's administrative handling of the system but just wanted to -make sure the level of service now being offered would be maintained ■ a PET SHOW ENTRIES — Shown with some rabbit entries in Saturday's Zurich Fall Fair pet show are Darcy and Justin Scott and Dan Thiel. T -A ahotn_ We're Hitting the Streets and you'll SAVE $ SAVE $ Asp Timex L.C.D. Men's & Ladies Watches $999 10; 16" BMX Bikes $5500 Unassembled Imperial Measure Paint Final Clearance Many one of a kind and Discountinued Items at Unbelievable Prices Priced to Clear Thurs. & Fri. Only