Members of the Webster County Telecommunications Board on Thursday heard from two different firms interested in helping to improve the management of the 911 dispatch center within the Webster County Law Enforcement Center.

The meeting was held in the Fort Dodge City Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S. About 20 people attended.

No action was taken.

The board is considering outside help because the current system lacks structure, according to Cory Husske, Fort Dodge assistant police chief. Husske is the chairman of the Webster County Telecommunications Board.

The Webster County Telecommunications Board consists of two rural mayors, two county representatives, and three city of Fort Dodge representatives. The board is a separate entity from the city and county.

Jesse Case, secretary and treasurer for Teamsters Local 238, advocated for the board to hire the consulting services of Dennis Henderson.

Henderson is a former Clive city manager. In 1998, he and the city managers of Urbandale and West Des Moines developed a joint communications facility, which later became Westcom Communications Center.

Westcom Communications began operations in 2001. Henderson served as the chairperson for the Westcom Management Committee for more than 15 years.

“We think the system itself is a bad idea to contract out of the public sector,” Case said. “In terms of privatizing the response center, we have nothing against this firm from New Jersey other than we don’t think it’s needed. Why privatize when you can look to local experts?”

Henderson said during the initial phase of his consulting, there would be no cost associated with his services.

“No,” Henderson said. “I like to see things succeed.”

A review of chain of command, policies and procedures would be among the areas Henderson would be tasked with.

Once a course of action is determined, Henderson would charge for continued services.

Henderson said an outside manager would ultimately be hired to run the center.

Webster County Sheriff Jim Stubbs said his understanding was a person would come to Webster County from the metro to serve as manager until someone could be trained locally to take over.

Case emphasized keeping the services within the state of Iowa.

“We would like to be looked at as partners,” Case said. “We can call on our network of people. We have national experts. Is it overkill to privatize it when you should look at hiring a consultant to make recommendations and look at how we can implement solutions?”

Larry Consalvos is president and chief operating officer of IXP. IXP is a public safety management services company headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey.

The company launched in 2000. It works with about 200 clients across the country and employs about 180 people.

Consalvos addressed the board Thursday.

If IXP is hired, Consalvos said dispatchers would continue to work from the Webster County Law Enforcement Center.

“We are changing the paradigm of how 911 services are offered,” Consalvos said. “We become a local partner in that community. A national company headquartered in New Jersey, we become part of the fabric in every community we do business.”

According to Consalvos, IXP would provide high level training for dispatchers.

“Our goal is to have as many of the policies and procedures documented and put into the system,” Consalvos said. “What we don’t want is our employees freelancing.”

Consalvos said IXP has never lost one of its clients.

“Every one of our clients has renewed their contract services with us,” Consalvos said.

Husske said Case had alleged that IXP did lose a client.

“What about Cincinnati?” Case asked.

“We don’t have a client in Cincinnati,” Consalvos said.

Case said if IXP is hired, surrounding counties would benefit.

“At-will employees,” Case said. “Right now wages are negotiated. At-will people, I assume, a for-profit company in a 911 center will do wage reviews and looking where they can cut costs.”

“No,” Consalvos said. “We do a salary analysis.”

“If it’s merit system based, my guess is surrounding counties will love it,” Case said. “If other surrounding counties are union or they know when they are getting their next raise, this company’s model is based on merit. This is going to be a great recruitment tool, in my opinion, for surrounding counties to get Webster County dispatchers.”

Case added, “My guess is we would be stealing your dispatchers if you switch to a private sector, merit-based system for your communications.”

“That’s a little bit of a fear-based model,” Consalvos said. “First off our employees know exactly when their cost of living adjustments are made every year. They also know when their performance bonuses are due every year.”

Consalvos added, “We found that our employees stay with us, are happy, and have future opportunities. They know exactly when their anniversary date is, their contract anniversary.”

Specific costs associated with the hiring of either firm was not discussed at Thursday’s meeting.

At a previous meeting, Husske said the consideration of hiring an outside firm was not tied to money.

He said the actual cost savings per year would be about $14,000.

That translates to a savings of less than $1,000 per year for the cities served by the dispatch center.

The board is anticipated to take action on hiring one of the firms at next month’s meeting.