Agenda - 11-20-2012 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 1 What is PageTrack? A little over a year ago, I started a software company that has developed 2 a real time tracking system for fire, EMS, and rescue responders. It's web based and runs on 3 smart phones, Pads, and desktops. 4 5 It is currently being used by many departments in the county. Those departments can use the 6 system for free forever. 7 8 1 am submitting a document with my detailed questions and concerns about the OSSI path that 9 the county is on. There is no easy way to summarize all the points. 10 11 The agenda for this meeting says that after the OSSI demonstration, "The system was well- 12 received by the stakeholders." The problem is that an email was sent out on a Wednesday that 13 gave Fire just two days to voice any concerns about the system. Many concerns that I had 14 voice anywhere from 1 to 5 months ago had not been address by Emergency Services. 15 16 There's been talk of the strained relationship between ES and the fire departments, and the CC 17 said that we all need to communicate better. Well, fire should have voiced any concerns they 18 had, and ES should not have taken silence to be the same as approval. So we are on a path 19 where this is a good chance there will be friction once again between the groups. 20 21 If the fire departments can't use PageTrack with OSSI, and have to switch to the OSSI A.V.L. 22 system, they will lose capabilities they have now while spending as much as nine times as 23 much money. So this lack of communications could cost the fire departments .5 million dollars 24 at start up and $50,000 per year ongoing costs. 25 26 The scheduling of this vote is sad, since the CC will meet with the fire departments in just two 27 days. A communications opportunity lost. 28 29 There's a lot of talk about all the stakeholders having a voice in the development of the system. 30 It seems to me that after the purchase, those options go down substantially. 31 32 So please read my concerns. I want to avoid a situation where a year down the road everyone 33 is yelling at each other because the system is not what they want or cost too much to 34 implement. And even if you approve the purchase tonight, please work with Fire so that you 35 can insure their concerns are met. Historically, Fire has not had much success convincing ES 36 to change how they do things. Deploying this new CAD system is an opportunity to fix that 37 problem and have better emergency service to people that are in trouble. 38 39 40 Commissioner McKee said that there was an opportunity for a demonstration of this at 41 the Emergency Services work group. He said that he felt that the intention is to keep an open 42 dialogue with the fire departments. He does not want to close the door to further dialogue. 43 Commissioner Jacobs asked if the contract could be signed after the meeting with the 44 fire departments and rescue squad on Thursday. 45 Michael Talbert said that the County was offered a special deal to sign the contract 46 before October 5"'. He is not sure there is another clear alternative because this system is also 47 used by the adjoining counties. It is the preferred system across the State. 48 Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like to sign this contract after the meeting 49 because there may be further information regarding suggestions or modifications from the fire 50 departments.