By JESSICA BRICKER
A new equipment purchase will hopefully help emergency dispatches get from Bluffton to the Town of Markle.
Markle Fire Chief Jon Gray told the town council Wednesday that first responders in the town have been having trouble receiving dispatches from Wells County. Some responders aren’t even getting the pages and sometimes those that come through aren’t coherent.
To determine what the problem was, Gray sought out ERS Wireless for help. A review of the town’s equipment as well as the equipment at the Bluffton dispatch center detected some issues. However, those adjustments didn’t completely take care of the issues, Gray said, so the next step would be replacing the signal repeater. The total cost was quoted at $5,973.38.
The Town of Warren just did this for the same cost, the council learned, and the cost for Markle could potentially be split five ways — by two townships in Wells, two townships in Huntington and by the town itself. The commissioners in each county will also be asked to help fund the equipment.
Council President Matthew Doss said the need for adequate emergency dispatching was evident this week after the severe weather in the region. He also said providing this service is a top priority for the town council.
The council offered its unanimous support for the equipment purchase.
In related business, Vice President Nick Lund volunteered to serve on the Wells County 911 Board representing the town. Right now the board is working through plans to consolidate the dispatch centers for the Wells County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Bluffton.
jessica@news-banner.com
