New Deschutes County 911 Service District Director Steve Reinke is keen to get the agency through what he called the “growing pains” stage.

Reinke took county administrators and commissioners on a tour of 911 facilities as part of a performance management review Tuesday, telling them he wants to identify 911’s capital and operational needs, get permanent funding that covers the cost of a new countywide radio system and hire more employees for the dispatch floor.

Reinke, who assumed duty Sept. 2, came to a position that has seen high turnover, with 17 directors over the past 20 years. The 911 operation dispatches for 14 police, fire and emergency medical service agencies in the county.

The radio system, to be implemented over the next few years, would be operated under the umbrella of 911 but would serve diverse agencies who pay to use the system, ranging from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office to St. Charles Health System. Currently, nearly every agency in the county has its own radio system, which limits interoperability, and the equipment needs updating, according to Deschutes County Sheriff Capt. Erik Utter.

In the coming months, 911 will hold strategic planning meetings to review industry standards and the level of service expected by participating agencies.

Next steps include naming a project manager, establishing a governance committee and pursuing possible partnerships with school districts and solid waste management, each of which has its own internal radio systems.

“You nailed all the elements we want to see,” County Administrator Tom Anderson told Reinke after his presentation. He said the county may not be ready to prepare a proposal for permanent funding for some time — as soon as May and as late as 2016.

If permanent funding cannot be secured, the backup plan is to establish a five-year levy before the current 20-cent levy expires in June 2019, Reinke said.

The agency also receives a permanent rate of 16.18 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The county funds go to the maintenance and operations of the 911 center, including staff costs, training and debt service on 911’s building, which was built in August 2010.

The agency maintains reserve funds that could be used to pay for the new radio system. However, the money has been set aside primarily for capital and operational costs, and so the amount available in reserve is hard to pin down, Reinke said.

Reinke also mentioned a proposed 66 percent increase in state funding to 911 services may be available to upgrade to “next-generation” technology that would allow 911 to receive text messages.

“I do think we need to be relying on the state for this,” Reinke said. “The cost of infrastructure to move to the next generation is going to be high.”

As well as hiring more dedicated call takers, Reinke wants to hire for two technical positions.

The agency has eight openings for line employees. Reinke hopes to begin hiring by early next year.

Line employees who keep an ear on dispatch also have to field calls, which is not ideal, Reinke said. “It is an industry position not to have radio positions working 911 calls at the same time,” he said.

Reinke also wants to review the agency’s adherence to industry standards, including response times, and may issue public surveys.

911 doesn’t just take calls from those needing help: the agency also provides real-time support to field personnel and addresses public records requests, duties that Reinke expects will grow with the county.

The commissioners were supportive of the hiring efforts.

“I’m really proud of the work that’s gone on with the lack of staff we have,” said Commissioner Tammy Baney.

— Reporter: 541-383-0376, cwithycombe@bendbulletin.com