County Commissioners Meeting Minutes 09/23

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Here is a excerpt from the County Commissioners meeting for 09/23/2009 that some might find interesting...

Departmental Presentation – County-wide Communications
Mike Weaver, Director, County-wide Communications (LCWC) provided an overview of the County-wide Communications Department,
including the department’s history. Mr. Weaver noted that the LCWC is the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the County of Lancaster. Mr.
Weaver explained that LCWC receives every 911 call that originates in Lancaster County, including the City of Lancaster. In 2008, the center received a daily average of 588 calls to 911and dispatched EMS, law enforcement, or a fire company 396,037 times during the year-the 5th busiest county/city in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Weaver reported that the LCWC operates with 33 dispatch positions, 85 telecommunicators, 9 supervisors, and 18 administrative
and support staff. Mr. Weaver noted that there are many employees that have been with the LCWC for over 30 years and commended the staff for
their commitment and dedication to excellence. Mr. Weaver noted their recent achievement of a 0.0095% error rating for their Automatic Location
Identification Database–the Commonwealth allows for a 5% error rating. Mr. Weaver noted that the LCWC also does a lot of public relations work in

the community and that the public is welcome to come and tour the LCWC center anytime. In addition to serving as a dispatch center, the LCWC also manages and maintains the County’s Public Radio Communications System and operates field communications systems, which are automatically deployed

if the SERT is called out or there is a major incident, and is also active with the South-central Terrorism Taskforce.

Mr. Weaver reported that the LCWC does have a fully operable and complete back-up facility as is required by Pennsylvania law under Act 78. Mr. Weaver referenced the LCWC website at www.lcwc.co.state.pa..us.

Commissioner Martin stated that Mr. Weaver is being very humble with their accuracy rate and noted that from being around him and the

staff at LCWC he knows how much that 1% error rate bothers them and commended their efforts in staying vigilant and proactive with municipalities
for updates and changes. Commissioner Martin continued to comment that he believes it is that mentality that has gotten the LCWC to that 99%
accuracy rate.

Commissioner Martin asked Mr. Weaver to speak about how the LCWC is funded, including recent changes, and also about their
partnership with Webcad. Mr. Weaver responded that in 1990 Act 78 placed a surcharge on landlines telephones. The surcharge was based on several things including the size of the county. For a 3

rd Class County, the surcharge was set at $1.25. This surcharge funded the LCWC operations for anumber of years. Mr. Weaver continued to explain that in the late 1990’s, as people began to switch from landlines to cell phones and Voice Over IP’s, the Commonwealth enacted legislation that put a $1 charge on wireless devices but that this surcharge is collected by the Commonwealth anddistributed based on need. Mr. Weaver explained that the LCWC makes annual requests to the Commonwealth for funds from this surcharge.

Mr.Weaver reported most recently the Commonwealth enacted legislation applying a surcharge on Voiceover IP’s based on the landline charges. Mr.

Weaver further reported that in the late 1990’s the LCWC would collect around 4.2 million dollars annually from landlines but has since fallen to

approximately 3 million dollars annually. Mr. Weaver noted that they are working with legislators on funding streams for county 911 centers. Mr.
Weaver additionally noted that the State 911 Association, which he was past Chair, and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania are
funding a study to determine what the actual costs are for 911 services in Pennsylvania and hope to have the independent report done by the beginningof next year to begin discussions on the best way to fund this service.

Mr. Weaver discussed the radio system noting that they are in the process of writing the Requests For Proposals for its replacement and anticipates starting the process in the beginning of the year-pending some dealings with the FCC.

Mr. Weaver also noted that their Computerized Dispatch System needed replaced and after looking at systems on the market, decided to design
one themselves. The design included a system called Webcad which enables providers in the field to access real time incident reports and eliminates their need to call the LCWC office for information. Webcad has also proven beneficial during large storms where there are hundreds of incoming calls and dispatches in a short time.

Commissioner Stuckey questioned where a 911 call goes if placed on a mobile phone outside the 717 area code. Mr. Weaver responded
that 911 calls are forwarded to the county in which the radio tower that picked up the phone signal is located. Mr. Weaver further explained that thereare areas where a person could still be physically in Lancaster County but their cell phone will be picked up by a tower in a neighboring County. Mr. Weaver continued that there are two ways this situation can be handled; the first is transferring the call to the correct county 911 center and the second is transferring the caller’s information to the correct 911 center. Mr. Weaver noted that this is one reason that the dispatcher will ask the caller whatcounty and municipality they are in.

Mr. Bill Bonanno, Ms. Bonnie Miller, and Mr. James Huber commented on the LCWC department. Mr. Huber commended Mr. Weaver

and the LCWC for the outstanding job they have done in developing the 911 center.