Last July I wrote about some of the history of the 911 center as I remembered it, as well as my hope as a seasoned citizen the agencies involved might find a way to get along. Didn’t hear much until just recently, but it looks like getting along hasn’t quite happened yet.
After reading the results of an Aug. 29 meeting between some of the concerned parties, it may be tougher depending on whom in the room you talk to. And since then, apparently the Twin Cities have looked at contracting with Thurston County.
That’s really disappointing, especially in light of the optimism expressed over the newly signed interlocal agreement.
But what was more disappointing were some comments attributed to Commissioner Bobby Jackson specifically about forming an executive board.
“They want an (executive) board, but what they really want to do is control the entire situation” and “there was no avenue open for us to even discuss,” he said, as was reported in The Chronicle.
In the same story it was reported that according to Mansfield, the power to create an executive board is in the interlocal document that was just signed and frankly makes sense. The work required do it however will be significant especially given the tension between agencies.
Jackson’s suggestion that managers work on this problem seems reasonable too, but Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes reported response he’d “not be locked out” didn’t seem particularly useful. Based on all the issues, there is a lot of work that needs to be done regardless of how they do it, and it would seem to me managers (who are full time) or their subordinates are exactly who should be doing it.
In fact Mayor Dawes might draw on his own experiences as a young deputy many years ago when he and deputy Spike Millman created an inmate transportation system to cooperatively move them between jails, saving miles, time, and money. It was pretty much a handshake deal that could have gone sideways many times if politicians got in the way. But they didn’t and today there are still no sheriffs, no chiefs, no political people of any type involved, and the system has become a national model and continues to grow.
Finally, all those who think moving to Thurston County is a good idea should read the letter to the editor by Dale Merten from Toledo. His description of what it would take and how it would work technically was pretty interesting. Anyone reading it can tell that solution wouldn’t be ideal and it looks like the county would still be answering calls from cell phones and have to transfer those 911 calls to Thurston to be dispatched.
That doesn’t seem like a really good idea. Plus I suspect there would be fees associated with it as it still requires the local 911 center to answer the phones.
The best solution is to work together and figure out how to get this done right here.
I believe there are some really good and thoughtful people involved in this who if allowed, could come up with a workable (though likely not perfect) solution. The electeds give nothing up by allowing that to happen and still have to approve whatever the solution is.
As a recovering elected myself, I understand how difficult it can be to let people do their jobs while perhaps fearful of what they might come up with. I also understand how easily we can muck thing up or stifle good ideas if we are inserted in the process too early.
But as another letter writer Jerry Pratt suggested in his letter “grownups should be able to come to an understanding without all the back and forth.” He’s right.
It shouldn’t be too hard to lay out some guiding principles (if they are not already in the recently signed interlocal) and let the professionals get it done.
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John McCroskey was Lewis County sheriff from 1995 to 2005. He lives outside Chehalis, and can be contacted at musingsonthemiddlefork@yahoo.com.
