Well Over $ 400,000.00 Spent On Dothan Fire Department Ring Down Phone

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 5204

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Dec 16 2014 4:59 PM

DOTHAN:   Just over one year ago, Dothan Fire Chief Larry Williams convinced the Dothan – Houston County E-911 to fork out over                      $ 400,000.00 for a sophisticated phone system.

The Dothan Fire Department had a “ring down” system. When a call came in the 911 operator would announce to the 9 fire stations in Dothan the emergency and location of the emergency.

Chief Williams said the system was old and needed to be replaced. Which is true the system was old. But another reason was some Dothan Fireman complained about being woke up during the night when the call was not for their fire station.

EXAMPLE:  If Dothan Fire Station 5 ( Eastside ) received a call for a medical emergency, all 9 fire stations heard the call when the 911 operator announced the call.

With the new system, the 911 operator only calls the station that is needed to respond, thus not disturbing the sleep of the other fireman.

The funding came from Dothan – Houston County 911 and not the City of Dothan money. But the system is used exclusively for Dothan Fire Department.

DOTHAN COMMISSION MEETING TODAY

Well, whoever negotiated the contract for the over $ 400,000.00 sophisticated phone system, well they had the City of  Dothan spend more money today.

The Dothan Commission voted to spend $ 14,704.08 for a one year…1 year, maintenance contract.

A maintenance contract for what we already have paid $ 400,000.00 for.

Why in the world would someone negotiate to spend over $ 400,000.00 of Dothan – Houston County money, and then one year later spend another    $ 14,704.08?

Not one member of the Dothan Commission asked a single question. All think it is appropriate that we spend this money.

But it is OPM…other people’s money.

Can you afford a phone system well over 400,000.00? And then a year later another $ 14,708?

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