Undersheriff Ty Martin (left) explains the operational plans for the new regional dispatch center set to open on the 4th floor of the Judicial Center this summer. Florence Mayor Keith Ore is pictured (center) along with other Florence and county officials.
Renovation of space on the 4th floor of the Fremont County Judicial Center for a new regional 9-1-1 communications center is proceeding with the joint governing board still projecting that the new center could be operational by late June or early July. Consoles for each dispatcher’s position are being installed this week which will then signal the start for installation of radio console controls, 9-1-1 computer answering equipment, and the computer aided dispatch system (CAD).
The Fremont County Commissioners and members of the Florence City Council convened their monthly workshop meeting on the 4th floor of the Judicial Center so the elected officials could see first-hand the progress that’s being made. Dispatch supervisor Kris Meredith and Fremont County Undersheriff Ty Martin detailed the project and answered questions.
Dispatch supervisor Kris Meredith shows off the microwave and radio towers on the roof of the Fremont County Judicial Center. The equipment will handle all of the radio communications for the new regional dispatch center which should be operational in July. Pictured right of Meredith are Fremont County Manager George Sugars and Undersheriff Ty Martin.
Meredith said it’s expected that Florence Police dispatchers will be the first to train and transition into the new dispatch center this summer because the new CAD software is from the same company now being used at Florence. Once Florence dispatchers are trained, Cañon City dispatchers will begin the transition to the new facility. It’s envisioned that the transition will involve the new dispatch center and the existing Cañon City Police dispatch both operating for a brief time period until training is completed that will allow the new center to fully operate independently.
The five agencies that came together over the past three years to make the dispatch center a reality include the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department, the Fremont County E 9-1-1 Authority, the City of Florence, the City of Cañon City, and the Cañon City Fire Protection District.