 Shelton opened the gathering on Monday morning with words of praise
and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for all those who worked on
the project. About 50 people were in attendance. Most had
contributed in some manner to the accomplishment.
Funding was a critical factor. For the changes to happen, the
room would need to merge city and county resources and still find
additional funding.
From City Hall, to the county board room, to the voters of Logan
County, to the nation's capitol -- step by step the dream was
brought forth. The new communications room went live on Nov. 28.
Timely grants secured by U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood were particularly
significant in the process. The congressman was the featured guest
of the morning.
LaHood made the following comments:
I have received a
lot of credit, but the credit really goes to the people who work
together. "The small part that we played was made much easier by the
fact that this particular part of my district really is working."
He recognized the
city of Lincoln and Logan County leadership for their collaboration,
the E-911 board's labor and Dan Fulscher.
LaHood said that
when he was here on a previous visit, Fulscher took him to the
communications room and showed him the need. He saw the 1978
antiquated equipment. He gave it thought. "Citizens need instant
response to health, accident, crime or fire issues," he said.
He said that with
any big project it takes one person who gets up every day and
figures out how they make whatever is important happen. It takes one
person to sort of be the spark plug and think, how do we make this
happen, throughout every day. And certainly Dan is one that has been
able to get everyone to work together, to pull together, to make
this happen.
"You know it's
great to have that interstate out there running along your
community. Look what's happened along the interstate. But it also
requires a lot of coordination with communication when accidents
happen, and with all the new businesses that are out there now, we
need this kind of coordinated communications to make sure that the
people are well-served."
He credited the
taxpayers for passing the referendum.
We need to make the
taxpayers understand that their hard-earned dollars that go to
Washington and their hard-earned dollars that they're paying here in
the county are being well spent. And that they will be served by the
many dedicated people, whether it's the local police, fire or rural
fire, or the sheriff's office, through a state-of-the-art
communications center.
You're lucky, right
here in the middle of the state, to have this kind of communications
center. And the lion's share of the credit goes to the taxpayer and
these people who are in charge of these important functions for the
county.
LaHood said that
getting on the appropriations committee a few years ago made it so
he could be helpful to the citizens who needed resources. "This is
bringing back your tax dollars to you. And I think it's money well
spent," he said.
LaHood thanked
Carol Myrna and Tim Butler from his office for making sure he had
the right information to present to Washington. "We're delighted to
have played a small part. I am privileged to serve in this position,
and I am going to be around for another year."
"I thank all of you
for coming together and working together on a program that will
really make a difference in lives of the citizens of Logan County."
-- end comments by
congressman LaHood
[to top of second column]
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A few of the comments made by others present:
Sheriff Steve
Nichols -- You always hear about the people that are out in
Washington working for you. If we had more people like congressman
LaHood, I don't think we'd have near the problems. Without him, this
dream would be a dream.
The sheriff
recalled that it took many decisions, some not popular, as the
project progressed. He and Fulscher talked often, but no matter how
far apart in their thinking was at the start, "we always end up on
the same page."
"Everyone is happy
with the result," he said.
"It's been a wild
trip, but it's been a worthwhile one," and he thanked everyone.
___
Lincoln Alderman
Buzz Busby, fire chairman -- The city council voted unanimously for
this and I'm proud of that.
___
Lincoln Alderman
Kathy Horn, police chairman -- It just shows how the county and the
city can work together.
___
911 dispatch
supervisor Mark Mann -- Thirty years ago when the Lincoln Police
Department and the sheriff's department dispatch moved together into
a modern building, "we didn't think it would get any better than
that." But 30 years later, "we needed to get better."
Now we have the
equipment that they (emergency responders) use to propel what we are
able to do for the citizens of Logan County. "We are all so
surprised at how well the new technology handles so far," he said.
Mann also expressed
appreciation of the leadership that Fulscher provides.
___
ETSB board chairman
Mike Patridge -- After spending time around the emergency management
agency during the process: It's amazing what they do. Logan County
is extremely lucky to have that team (Dan Fulscher, Terry Storer,
Patty Storer and Cheryl Hedrick). And congressman Ray LaHood is part
of that team.
Part 2 of "New 911 Communications Room Celebrated" will look at
what changes have been made in the communications room and what's
coming in the future.
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
Past related
articles:
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