FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted Tuesday to officially change the name of the dispatch center to the Franklin County Regional Communications Center.

They also accepted a mission statement for the center that opened on April 25.

Center Director Stan Wheeler told commissioners that the move went as well as expected. With the move, dispatchers began using the new NexGen 911 system.

It is a fully-functioning communications center, he said. There were a few radio glitches, but they were worked out, but some other issues continue to be worked out, he said.

Commission Chairman Fred Hardy of New Sharon said that they did well to have as few glitches as they had during the transition.

It was a huge team effort, Wheeler said. He could not say enough good about Somerset County IT Service representatives, who were very helpful, he said. That county’s equipment worked flawlessly, he said.

It seems like a huge changeover, Hardy said.

“There is still lots of things that need to be done,” Wheeler said. “We are very excited, and I can tell all of the dispatchers are happy to be in such a professional place.”

Dispatchers previously worked out of about 230 square feet of space in the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department building.

By contract, the old 911 equipment has to stay at the sheriff’s office for 30 days after the change, he said. It is there as a backup in case the new system fails.

In other business, commissioners accepted jail manager Major Doug Blauvelt’s recommendation to hire Sean Moore of Wilton as a full-time corrections officer. He had worked at the Knox County Jail and was certified in June 2012.

Moore comes with excellent references, Blauvelt said.

Knox County waived reimbursement of training payment, county Clerk Julie Magoon said.

During interviews, candidates were asked if any of them would be willing to work part-time if they were not chosen as full-time, Blauvelt said.

Christopher Hall of Madison was interested in becoming a part-time corrections officer. He currently works at the Somerset County Jail in East Madison. Commissioners approved Hall as part-time.

Commissioners also voted to hire Raymond Lee of Weld to fill the custodian position at the jail. He had worked for eight years as a multi-school custodian, was a school bus driver and also managed a store, Blauvelt said. He has the basic knowledge of the equipment at the jail.

Lee will need to undergo training to become a certified corrections officer to fill in at the jail, if necessary.

In another matter, commissioners accepted the recommendation of a Tax-Increment Financing Application Review Committee to give Deborah Staier of Freeman Township a $795.40 employment training skills scholarship for the summer semester.

She is going to school for horticulture with plans to open her own business.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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