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Support Services
Ramona P. Patts, Administrator
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The year 2009 continued to be a high energy and productive year for the Division of Support Services. Management and staff were involved in a myriad of high profile projects, committees and working groups.
We carried out essential divisional tasks and were active in the implementation of several special
projects involving (Nextel) 800 MHz Radio Rebanding, City of Columbus Wireless E911,
Police & Fire Communications Systems (Upgrading to new Computer Aided Dispatch system - live date June 2010),
and Homeland Security Grants. In addition, we continued expanding Voice & Data "Interoperability" to those first responders and agencies throughout the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), adjacent counties, and the fifteen counties within Ohio Homeland Security Region Four. The Licensing and Weights & Measures Sections were proactive in updating and initiating new city codes to serve the City of Columbus.
The following are the accomplishments of Communications, Licensing, and the Weights & Measures Sections:
Communications Section:
• Integrated two 1.6 million dollar communications command vehicles into the Columbus UASI exercise and response plans. These vehicles are used by first responders to enhance or implement command and control during times of disaster or declared emergencies in the 15 county Homeland Security region 4 area of responsibility. This is to bring Fire, EMS, Police, Sheriff, and any other local agencies together under a single unified command center to better communicate while mitigating an incident.
• Completed the design, purchase and installation of a new Telephone & Voicemail (PBX) System for the Division of Police Headquarters. This new system will enhance their daily operations and services. In addition, the City of Columbus will benefit a significant annual cost savings due to the elimination of on-going monthly charges for 800 Centrex telephone lines and 400 Voicemail (VoiceTel) boxes. This new system will have the capability of implementing IP (VOIP), Wireless, and View Mail applications and will support the Division of Police for many years to come. The annual savings per year for eliminating on-going monthly Centrex lines and VoiceTel boxes is $275,000.
• Completed the purchasing, programming and distributing of 1,100 Portable & Mobile "Interoperable 800 MHz Radios" for eighty-three (83) agencies throughout the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
(Ex: Columbus Police & Fire, Sheriff, Bomb Squad, STRIKE TEAM)
Grants: Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). $5,150,000
• Continued to manage the "Data Sharing Initiative Grant"
from the "Community Orientated Policing Office".
The vision and goals of this grant is to have Interoperable Data Sharing among
all public safety first responders (Police, Fire, EMS, Sheriff, etc) within the
Metropolitan Statistical Area(MSA). At the end of 2009, there were 75 Public Safety
agencies that had received equipment from this grant to improve/enhance
data and voice interoperability in the MSA.
• Completed the following projects:
- Wiring & Communications needs for new Police SWAT Building.
- Completed the installation of 130 Data Computers into a myriad of fire apparatus and vehicles.
- Completed the installation of "Vision Hawk" Color Camera & Recording System into 140 police cruisers.
• Participated and supplied communications support, assets, and personnel to the following:
- Supported interoperable training for first responders in Pickaway County to include the Sheriffs office, Circleville PD and FD, Pickaway County EMA
- Participated in hazmat exercise with the Madison County EMA
- Red White & Boom
- Provided communications support for numerous VIP visits to Columbus to include the President of the United States
Licensing Section:
• The License Section generated $1,405,538 in total revenue and handled a total of
48,958 license transactions in 2009.
• Alarm Unit Activity – Tracked 13,045 false alarm reports from
the Columbus Division of Police and Division of Fire.
Collected $317,284 in false alarm penalty fees.
• General Regulatory Unit – Performed 990 various inspections of vehicles for hire and establishments.
• The License Section investigated and processed 132 applications for
Indigent Burials and paid $83,540 to local funeral homes for deceased indigents.
Weights & Measures Section:
• The Weights & Measures Section inspected and tested 12,083
measuring devices (scales, gas pumps, taximeters, laundry dryers,
parking clocks, vacuums, car washes and vehicle tank meters) in 2009.
401 devices were rejected and taken out of commercial use until repaired.
358 were faulty re-inspections and 116 were regular re-inspections.
• Performed random and standard package checking tests on 2213 items -
684 packages and 31 lots were ordered off sale for being short weight,
measure or count.
• Responded to and resolved 84 consumer complaints. (Scales,
Short Weight, UPC/Food prices, Gas Pumps, Advertising and Misc.)
• Price verification tests were performed in 276 establishments with
14,875 items being scanned, with 14,248 found to be correct,
334 overcharges and 293 under charges.
• A total of 145 violations were issued for non-compliance.
• $347,121 was the revenue created and invoiced from inspections.
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Division Offices:
220 Greenlawn Avenue;
Columbus, OH 43223-2694
Telephone: (614) 645-7710
Fax: (614) 645-4819
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