Orange County NC Website
16 <br /> Commissioner Burroughs asked if compensation for these positions should be higher. <br /> Travis Myren said there is a recurring application process so as not to delay hiring. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said the turnover rate has been reduced compared to what it <br /> used to be. <br /> Dinah Jeffries said about 90-92% are retained, while five years ago it was around 72- <br /> 78%. <br /> Chair McKee asked if all the recommendations of the Emergency Services Task Force <br /> have been implemented. <br /> Dinah Jeffries said every one of the recommendations from the Emergency Services <br /> Task Force has been implemented. <br /> Chair McKee asked if clarification could be given regarding the training of tactical EMS <br /> staff and the types of situations in which they are being placed. He also asked if there is <br /> coordination with the Sheriff's department's training program. <br /> Kim Woodard said these medics are very finely selected and specially trained. She <br /> said the medics train alongside the law enforcement special teams and are embedded within <br /> those teams. She said the medics provide services to the law enforcement officers of those <br /> teams and are trained to enter hot response zones, which may not be cleared or secured, but <br /> typically do not go past the last point of cover and concealment. <br /> Travis Myren resumed the presentation: <br /> O Capital Investment Plan — FY2016-17 Recommendations <br /> • Communication System Improvements - $166,000 <br /> o Completes replacement of radios for Emergency Services <br /> o Outfit all vehicles with dual band radios (800Mhz and VHF) <br /> o Create a small inventory of backup radios in the event of a disaster <br /> • Emergency Services Substations - $500,000 <br /> o Colocation with Chapel Hill at new Hamilton Road Station <br /> • Hardened 911 Center - $980,000 <br /> o Provides primary hardened facility at Meadowlands site <br /> o Approved equipment and installation is eligible for funding by 911 Board <br /> O Sheriff's Office (graph) <br /> • Staffing Capacity - $168,211 <br /> o 2.0 Deputy Sheriff l's <br /> o 1.0 Investigator <br /> Public Safety- graph <br /> Public Safety- graph <br /> Public Safety-graph <br /> Discussion ensued on graph information. <br /> Chair McKee asked Sheriff Blackwood if his department's workload has increased, and <br /> if he is in need of more employees. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said five employees have been added to his department since 2008, <br /> and 39 have been added to EMS in the same timeframe. He said EMS has had an increased <br /> workload during that timeframe. He said the tactical EMS personnel, which were discussed <br />