Company Profile
Cowlitz County 911 Communications
Company Overview
COWLITZ 911 PUBLIC AUTHORITY
Cowlitz County is currently served by a multi-jurisdictional Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that provides emergency and non-emergency call-taking and dispatch services for law enforcement and fire service departments as well as a private ambulance service.
The Cowlitz County PSAP is currently operated as a Cowlitz County department and governed by the Board of County Commissioners. Per a long-standing interlocal agreement, customer agency input is provided by a 911 Council consisting of an elected official from each of the PSAP’s customer agencies. There is also a 911 Executive Board consisting of appointed officials from designated agencies.
In 2017, Cowlitz County, on behalf of the PSAP’s stakeholders, commissioned a governance study that resulted in a consensus decision to create an independent agency to govern the PSAP. Toward that end, the Cowlitz 911 Public Authority was established on March 13, 2018 by Ordinance 18-014 of the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners.
As the transition process continues through 2018, the Cowlitz County BoCC will continue to govern the PSAP. When the transition process is completed, which is expected to be on or before January 1, 2019, the Cowlitz 911 Public Authority Board of Directors will govern the PSAP.
The Executive Director will be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the agency and will report to the Board of Directors. During the last few months of the 2018 transition process, he or she will be a Cowlitz County employee and will transfer to become an employee of the Public Authority along with the rest of the PSAP’s staff January 1, 2019.
THE OPPORTUNITY
In late 2016, voters approved a measure which raised the local sales tax rate by 1/10 of 1%. This new source of revenue is completely dedicated to improving the PSAP’s operations including additional staff. It will also be used to meet long-standing capital needs such as radio system improvements and the construction of a new dispatch center. A site has been selected for the new PSAP and the design phase is underway now.
The PSAP’s operations budget is approximately $3.7 million. Its other revenue sources include a local per access line phone tax along with user fees, which are forecast to remain stable for the next several years.
THE COMMUNITY
Cowlitz County is conveniently located within 100 miles of Portland, Seattle, Mount St. Helens, Ocean Beaches, Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River Gorge. Regional activities include hiking, bicycling, hunting, fishing, mountain climbing, water sports, skiing and golfing. The county’s population is 106,910 spread over 1,166 square miles.
More information can be found at these links: http://www.kelsolongviewchamber.org and http://www.bestplaces.net/county/washington/cowlitz.
Benefits
PERS state retirement, orthodontic care, VEBA, EAP program, life and disability options, See our job posting for additional benefits package.