FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners asked for some financial figures Tuesday before they make a decision on whether to move the current 911 emergency equipment to the new dispatch center or to connect the two buildings via underground fiber-optic cables.

By the end of the meeting, they voted to authorize Somerset County’s technical services to work with engineers on the new dispatch center to plan which equipment will be needed. Engineers are to return to commissioners with the plan and the cost.

No one factored in what was needed for technology for the new building, or the cost.

The new dispatch center is under construction across from the Sheriff’s Department offices on County Way in Farmington.

The cost of moving the existing 911 equipment to the new building is estimated at between $20,000 and $30,000, Dispatch Building Committee Chairman Stan Wheeler said he was told.

Initially, the next generation of 911 emergency equipment was expected to be available in July when the building is due to be completed. The equipment will not be installed by then, Wheeler said. The two buildings would eventually have to be connected, unless the county wants to buy a new phone and computer system, among other equipment.

There is a way around moving the equipment for a lot less money, Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. said. He is a member of the Dispatch Building Committee.

A trench could be dug and cables run through PVC pipe underground to connect the buildings, he said.

Dispatchers could work from the new center, but the 911 equipment would still be at the sheriff’s office until the new equipment is installed under a state contract.

Commissioner Fred Hardy of New Sharon said he was not in favor of spending $25,000 to $30,000 to move the equipment, but digging a trench would be a different matter. He wouldn’t have a problem with the building sitting empty until the new equipment is installed, he said.

It would be easy to put the new 911 equipment in place, especially if the two buildings are connected, said Peter Smith, director of Somerset County Technical Services.

The cost would depend on what type of fiber-optic cable and equipment is needed, Smith said.

It was not supposed to work this way, Commissioner Gary McGrane of Jay said. He didn’t think there would be a connection to the two buildings. It was supposed to be a stand-alone building, he said.

“This is going to be a change order,” McGrane said, and would cost more.

Project Engineer Keith Ewing said it was supposed to be a stand-alone building, but the premise had changed in the change of leadership. A new sheriff was elected in November.

It would cost less to make the connection now, while the building is being constructed, Ewing said.

No provision was made in any contract to connect the buildings, nor to figure out what kind of technology equipment would be needed.

Somerset County technical service was not involved in the planning for the new building. Ewing said he initially received some direction from Somerset County on what was needed.

Smith said Somerset County was told by a leader in Franklin County at the time to back off and not be involved.

He said huge holes exist in what is needed at the new dispatch center in regard to technology equipment.

Somerset County representatives were contracted to work on setting up the new computer-aided dispatch program and record-keeping program for Franklin County. They recently received a contract for maintenance of computers and technology.

Commission Chairman Clyde Barker of Strong said there was confusion over what Somerset County and another computer company that was working with the Sheriff’s Department were supposed to be doing.

“It was very confusing for all of us,” Barker said. “We have a new sheriff on board. I think he will straighten this out.”

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