|
Support Services
David M. Borden, Administrator
| |
The year 2007 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, 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:
• Completed the design, construction and delivery of a new state- of- the- art unified Communications Emergency Response Vehicle (CERV). This vehicle will be used by first responders who will need backup or on-scene interoperable voice, data, and visual communications while responding to a myriad of emergency and/or disaster situations anywhere in the county. $1.4 Mil
• Completed the design, construction and delivery of a new state-of-the-art Unified Incident Command Vehicle (UICV). This vehicle will be used by first responders as a portable unified command center while responding to a myriad of emergency and/or disaster situations anywhere in the county. This is to bring Fire, EMS, Police, Sheriff, and any other agency together under a single unified command center to better communicate while mitigating an incident. $1.5 Mil
• 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 design, purchase and installation of a new Emergency Backup Power Generator System for the E911 and the Police and Fire Dispatch Facility. This will supply backup power to critical E911, 800 MHz radio communications systems, and support equipment necessary for dispatching EMS, Fire, and Police services. $300,000
• 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
• Applied for and received a new "Data Sharing Initiative Grant" from the "Community Orientated Policing Services" (COPS). 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) $6,220,000
• 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 to the following:
- Gathering of Mustangs & Legends
- Jazz & Rib Fest
- Red White & Boom
- City of Shelby Flooding- Northern Ohio
- Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) Large Scale Exercise
Licensing Section:
• The License Section generated $1,264,650in total revenue and handled a total of 34,926 license transactions in 2007.
• Alarm Unit Activity – Tracked 17,640 false alarm reports from the Columbus Division of Police and Division of Fire. Collected $477,778 in false alarm penalty fees.
• General Regulatory Unit – Performed 1773 various inspections of vehicles for hire and establishments.
• The License Section investigated and processed 121 applications for Indigent Burials and paid $80,755 to local funeral homes for deceased indigents.
Weighs & Measures Section:
• The Weights & Measures Section inspected and tested 11,815 measuring devices (scales, gas pumps, taximeters, laundry dryers, parking clocks, vacuums, car washes and vehicle tank meters). 206 devices were rejected and taken out of commercial use until repaired. 178 were faulty re-inspections and 168 were regular re-inspections.
• Performed random and standard package checking tests on 2379 items - 432 packages and 17 lots were ordered off sale for being short weight, measure or count.
• Responded to and resolved 102 consumer complaints. (Scales, Short Weight, UPC/Food prices, Gas Pumps, Advertising and Misc.)
• Price verification tests were performed in 90 establishments with 4850 items being scanned, with 4665 found to be correct, 86 overcharges and 99 under charges.
• A total of 49 violations were issued for non-compliance.
• $335,444.08 was the revenue created and invoiced from inspections.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Division Offices:
220 Greenlawn Avenue;
Columbus, OH 43223-2694
Telephone: (614) 645-7710
Fax: (614) 645-4819
|
|
|