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The City of Holdenville Police Department, along with Wetumka PD and Hughes County EMS saw an annual increase in the cost for 911 dispatch service last month. When looking at the budget, the 911 board found that the departments with the highest volume of calls were paying the same or even less than some of the departments with a lower number of calls. Taking the total number of calls and dividing it by the total expense for the year, the 911 board determined that it spends an average of approximately $11.00 per call. When multiplying the $11.00 by the total number of calls for each department, those with a higher volume of calls saw an increase in their annual rate. The Holdenville Police Department, who logged in the highest volume of calls for the year, logging 1168 in just 90 days, saw the biggest increase, going from $56,000 per year to $72,000. The Wetumka Police Department increased from $18,000 to $32,000 per year, logging 804 calls in the same 90-day period. Hughes County EMS logged a total of 923 calls during the 90-day period which caused them an annual increase of $5,000 per year for a total of $30,000 annually. The Hughes County Sheriff’s department saw a slight decrease in their annual rate due to a lower call volume than other departments, however Sheriff Marcia Maxwell chose to pay the same annual rate as the Holdenville Police Department even though her department’s call volume was lower, logging just 923 calls during the 90-day call log. She, along with EMS Director, Chris Miller are also covering shifts as 911 dispatchers in order to give their dispatchers much needed time off. Hughes County Sheriff’s Department and the 911 board split the expenses for both phone and electric in the Sheriff’s department where the dispatch center is housed while the Holdenville Police Department pays the expense for the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications System. The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (OLETS) is the computer network that connects public safety agencies across the state to criminal histories, driver records, and other databases. Soon, Holdenville will have one or more Emergency Medical Dispatchers, including EMS Director, Chris Miller, who will be able to administer medical advice over a 911 call as first responders are being dispatched. The 911 dispatch is a valuable asset to our community and surrounding areas. It continues to grow and progress each year.
