It's Hard To Give Up Trust Developed With Negaunee Dispatch
To the Editor:

I am writing to inform you that the article about the switch of 911 Dispatch Services from Negaunee Regional to Chippewa County left out some information that may be helpful to the people of Mackinac County.

First, I will let you know that as a police officer, I would like to stay with Negaunee, as do most of the law enforcement officers working in Mackinac County. Just ask them. I have only attended the last two 911 board meetings and learned of misleading information as to why there is a need for the change. Most of the officers know that money is what is always used to affect change, but none of us were asked if the current dispatch needed replacement. As for asking the personnel that are dispatched 80% of the time to answer calls for service, no one really has.

Second, as for the money to pay for the service, I believe that Mackinac County has been paying about $85,000 per year for the last 10 years, with no or not much of an increase. I know it's tough times, and the state is cutting funding. However, the information given in the article, cost to Chippewa County will be $120,000 per year for the next five years. Are we not heading for the same problem five years from now, when the taxpayers of Chippewa County do not feel that they can subsidize the people of Mackinac County, and raise the rate? As for Negaunee's costs, they have given the amounts for each year for the next five years as: 2009: $104,999; 2010: $126,073; 2011: $148,292; 2012: $171,704; 2013: $196,363. If you use the $40,000, plus $120,000 for the cost over the next three years at Chippewa County, the amounts are even. But do we know if there will be any cost increases from Chippewa County? I think that Negaunee should be allowed the next three years to get their costs in line, because they were there for us when we first started up a Central Dispatch Center 10 years ago.

Third, as for the contract, Chippewa County wishes a five-year deal. Negaunee projected their amounts out for the five years, but the contract is renewable each year, and you can leave at any time. While at the Mackinac County 911 board meeting April 8, the board was informed that the county's attorney was satisfied with the language of Chippewa's contract. I was informed that this was not the case, and confirmed it with him. You may need to ask him what his concerns are. I am not aware of any problems with the contract from Negaunee.

Finally, if you ask most law enforcement officers, they would like to see Negaunee stay as their dispatch center. I have asked several EMT's and firefighters from around the county if they would like to see a change. Most have stated that they would like to stay where they're at. I know that many people understand trust, because when you're working late at night, with few or no other officers around, that person on the other end of your radio is your partner. So, after 10 years of trust, it's hard to give Negaunee up without a fight.

Merlin Doran, Police Officer

St. Ignace