Ramsey County dispatching system in county might get overhaul

When a call comes into the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center, a sophisticated computer system begins to work.

The caller's name and address pop up on a screen. There's a map. Information about the incident is typed in and sent out. Other information is shared and recorded.

In Ramsey County, the system is getting old and unable to keep up with technological advances.

"We've come to a point where we don't want to push a critical system past its useful life," said Scott Williams, the center's director.

The technical name for the system is "computer-aided dispatch," and it's crucial in responding to emergencies.

This fall, the county will begin a process to evaluate how the current system works, what new features it should have and whether it makes more sense to upgrade or replace it. Either way, it's likely going to cost millions of dollars and involve some political debate.

Last week, county commissioners gave the OK to seek bids from consultants who can help determine what's needed for an updated or a new system, and then figure out the price. There hasn't been a price tag on the consultant work yet, but there's leftover money in the department's account to pay for the contracts, according to county documents.

The last upgrade to the system, in 2006, cost more than $2 million, Williams said. He said this new venture would probably cost "multiple millions of dollars."

"It's something you can't afford not to have," said County Board Chairwoman Victoria Reinhardt.

The consultants will be asked to look at current operations and what new features are needed. They'll also look at best ways to operate a system and prepare budget estimates, including looking at federal grant opportunities.

Some newer things that users of the system would like, Williams said, include better mapping features and satellite vehicle-locating systems.

Many communities involved

White Bear Lake has its own dispatch center.

The merger had been a difficult process, but jurisdictional lines were agreed to, and St. Paul kept control of the computer-aided dispatch system. The system, which is used in about 500,000 calls each year, costs between $750,000 and $1 million to operate annually. Ramsey County pays a third of that cost.

Commissioner Janice Rettman was concerned last week as to how costs for the study and a potential new system would be shared between the city and county.

Commissioner Jim McDonough said it's important to remain flexible until the study is done to see what the best way to purchase and maintain a new system would be. Perhaps it would make sense for the county to take it over because it's used by all residents, he said.

St. Paul City Council President Kathy Lantry sits on a board that oversees the dispatch services. She said it's less of a turf battle and more a debate over practicality.

"If someone were to make the suggestion that it makes sense for the county to own, then we should have a thoughtful conversation," Lantry said.