Tallmadgeexpress.com - Dispatchers in Stow by August

by Amanda Harnocz

Reporter

Tallmadge -- Mayor Christopher Grimm and Stow Mayor Karen Fritschel have set an August deadline for the city of Stow's emergency dispatch center to be up and running, with Tallmadge telecommunicators on board.

The two mayors decided the switch will "absolutely" be in place by Aug. 29 at midnight, Grimm said. All seven Tallmadge's dispatchers will become Stow employees Aug. 29 at midnight as well, Grimm added.

"This will happen, period," Grimm said.

Stow's center, which was slated for completion July 1, according to the contract, is slightly behind schedule due to the death of an electrical consultant and the loss of another key employee who "left the city for another job," according to Fritschel.

However, she said, "We have always told them [Tallmadge] that it would be open in August. We are still planning for the new dispatch center to open in the last week of August."

In the dispatch contract between the two cities, it states if there is a delay because of uncontrollable circumstances, "the performance of this agreement shall commence within a reasonable time."

Grimm said he feels Aug. 29 is a reasonable time for the center to be up and running, and anticipates Stow will be ready by then.

Tallmadge agreed to a 20-year contract with Stow, which has the city paying Stow $315,000 a year for emergency dispatch services, with a 3 percent cost of living increase each year.

Tallmadge is not paying for services as of yet.

The city also agreed to pay Stow an additional $30,000 a year to hire all seven Tallmadge dispatchers and maintain Tallmadge's radio systems.

According to the agreed-upon contract, "Stow shall hire, between the dates of signing this agreement [Feb. 17] and July 1, a minimum of six full-time dispatchers."

However, Stow has not yet hired the dispatchers because the center is not ready, and Grimm said he will keep them in Tallmadge until it is completed.

"We plan on hiring the dispatchers as soon as we open it up in August," Fritschel said.

Currently, Fritschel said, crews are working "very hard" on the center, noting some of the equipment has already been installed.

Following many heated debates about moving the dispatch service to Stow, City Council approved the switch in February.

"I was in favor of the switch," Councilmember John Rensel said, adding, "But we aren't saving money if [the dispatchers] stay here past the July date."

If the start date is pushed back any further than August, Rensel said the city should consider a "trigger plan" in case the contract falls through.

"I will not wait until November or December," Grimm said, adding, "I figured there would be a little bit of a delay, but, a deal is a deal, and there will be repercussions if they [Stow] break the contract."

Mogadore dispatch contract

Currently, Tallmadge provides emergency dispatch services for Mogadore, but the city is thinking of signing on with Stow as well, according to Mogadore Mayor Mike Rick.

Mogadore City Council is expected to vote July 16 on legislation allowing the city to contract services to Stow, Rick said.

The proposed contract would have Mogadore paying Stow $46,000 a year, with a 3 percent increase every year.

"We are getting all the small things done with the contract now," Rick said, adding services will remain with Tallmadge until the switch happens.

Stow City Council already passed legislation allowing for a contract with Mogadore for emergency dispatch services, according to Fritschel.

Silver Lake ended its contract with Stow last year and will begin using Cuyahoga Falls for the fire, EMS and dispatch services July 15.

E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3911