WASHINGTON CO. E-911 DIRECTOR: CALL PROCESSING TIMES DOWN, STAFF NUMBERS UP

  

Washington County Commissioners heard details from a positive annual report for the county’s emergency dispatch department at their meeting today (Tuesday).

E-911 Director Robyn Hood told the court that the department’s grade of service for 2022 was “exceptional”, as 99 percent of calls coming in are being answered in less than 10 seconds. 

Hood said the communication call processing time for priority one calls, deemed the highest priority, was 1 minute and 48 seconds last year.  Priority two calls were listed at 2 minutes, while priority three was 3 minutes and 36 seconds and priority four was 5 minutes and 2 seconds.

Hood said those numbers are already seeing improvement to start this year.

The department has also gone from less than half staff to being fully staffed.  Hood said adjustments to scheduling have made a big difference in employees choosing to stay with the county.

County Judge John Durrenberger told Hood that the department has made “quite the progress” and that her work with prioritizing calls by rank has been a “major, major improvement.”  Commissioner Kirk Hanath said Hood’s leadership has led to these positive changes and thanked the public safety and Information Technology partners for their help in getting the changes implemented.

Hood told commissioners that in the next budget cycle, she will be requesting additional personnel.  She said EMS and fire calls are currently on the same radio and it has become too much for one person to keep up with, so they will be looking to separate them.

The department’s full annual report can be read here.

In other business, the court approved a request to use $32,500 in Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funding to complete the Military of Washington County exhibit at the Brenham Heritage Museum.  The money was requested during 2023 budget proceedings from within the HOT fund reserve.

The court also read a proclamation declaring Thursday as Texas Independence Day and recognizing March as Texas Independence Month in Washington County.

• Accepted a recommendation from the county engineer to grant authorization of the grant administration services contract with GrantWorks for the Community Development Block Grant Regional Council of Governments Method of Distribution Grant.  Commissioners also adopted a citizen participation plan for the grant project.
• Approved the completed roads located in the Century Farm at Chappell Hill subdivision to be placed into the maintenance phase for a one-year period and reducing their security/bond to 50 percent.  Roads affected include Century Terrace (0.31 miles), Astin Court (0.10 miles) and Orion Drive (0.24 miles) in Precinct 2.
• Approved a change fund for the county clerk pursuant to Local Government Code 130.902.
• Discussed a formal notice from AMP Texas Pipelines, LLC for a natural gas line within county right of way of Beaver Road in Precinct 3.
• Heard monthly reports from the sheriff’s office, county and district clerks, justices of the peace, auditor, tax assessor-collector, treasurer, constables, elections and veterans service officer.
• Granted the county treasurer authorization to advertise for bank depository bids that conform to all applicable state and federal laws, which will provide for all baking services required for the funds of Washington County, in accordance with Chapters 116 and 117 of Local Government Code (V.T.C.A.).  Bids will be due to the county by April 10^th and will be reviewed by the court for acceptance on April 18^th.