By Donna M. Perry, Sun Journal
Original publication date: Aug. 17, 2011

FARMINGTON, Maine — Franklin County commissioners voted Tuesday to move the Sheriff’s Department and Communications Center to a computer- aided dispatch program and public safety system that enhances record keeping and security for those involved in emergency situations.

Commissioners unanimously approved entering into a one-year service agreement with Somerset County for information technology specialists and maintenance, at a cost of $68,000. Also approved was an agreement with Information Management Corp. for about $16,000 for a one-time fee for 60 licenses to use two different software programs, along with maintenance service. An additional $99,749 for the new system will come from a 2009 interoperability emergency communication grant to fund IMC’s computer-aided dispatch and record- keeping program for the sheriff and dispatch departments.

The overall cost for the new system is about $175,749.

Currently the sheriff and dispatch departments use a program installed in 1992, which is said to be antiquated. Franklin County Communication Center provides dispatch services to most of the Franklin County police and fire departments and to emergency medical responders.

The decision to move forward comes after several years of discussion on changing to the IMC system that Carrabassett Valley, Jay, Rangeley and University of Maine at Farmington already have. Several other counties, as well as Livermore Falls police, also have the program.

The Somerset County technology team has built an infrastructure including several servers and will share their services and expertise with Franklin County. A high-performance fiber optic telephone line capable of carrying large amounts of data, called a T- 1 line, will be used to share the data system between the two counties.

IMC’s license fee for Franklin County may be reduced if other agencies share the cost.

IMC representative Dennis Noe told commissioners he worked very hard to give the Franklin County departments the most that he could for services and options and still maintain costs.

Department representatives from Franklin County and from other towns supported the county investing in the system.

“Whatever we do in this day and age is expensive,” Franklin County Sheriff Dennis Pike said. “We have reached a point to move into the 21st century.”

Tim Hardy, Franklin County emergency management director, commended IMC and Somerset County for working to bring about a sharing agreement for the county.

“My hat is off to them,” Hardy said.

Somerset County Administrator Larry Post said the agreement gives Somerset County an opportunity to work together with another county.

“I look forward to working with Somerset County,” Franklin County Commissioner Gary McGrane of Jay said.

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