ROSSFORD – After hearing an hour-long presentation Monday from the county sheriff about the advantages of
contracting with his agency for dispatching emergency services, City Council voted against purchasing
the software needed if it were to join another dispatching service with neighboring municipalities.
Only council member Daniel Wagner voted in favor of purchasing the ALERTS software and records management
system.
The city’s current records management system license expires at the end of June.
Wagner argued that this new software could be used for a year, even if the city decided to get its
dispatching through the county sheriff. The city now has a contract with Lake Township to provide its
dispatching, but that service needs to be upgraded to higher digital standards.
While the vote was ostensibly only about software, that decision, said several members of council, really
would drive what decision the city makes in terms of the dispatching contract.
At this point, the options are Perrysburg Township; the intergovernmental arrangement with Northwood,
Lake Township and Walbridge; and the sheriff’s office. That intergovernmental arrangement uses as the
ALERTS software, as does the township.
Mayor Neil MacKinnon said he had invited Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn to give the presentation at Monday’s
meeting.
The ordinance on purchasing the software has been on the agenda for several months. It had gone through
three readings, and then was tabled last month.
The cost of the software would have been roughly $139,000.
Though full costs were not discussed, members of council came away with the impression that county
dispatching would be less expensive.
Fire Chief Josh Drouard said he had questions about how the sheriff would handle fire calls.
In other action, council:
• Approved new rules on first reading allowing people to have trailers and boats parked in their
driveways for as long as five days in spring and fall while being taken out or prepared for storage.
Wagner and Robert Ruse voted against the new rules. Wagner said they should be discussed more.
• Approved a contract with Verizon to install a cell tower at a public works site on Wales Road. The
company will pay the city $1,000 a month for the lease, which can be extended for as long as 20 years.