• GIS MAPPING:  The State of Iowa increased their 911 GIS accuracy rates to 98% or higher on all GIS data layers, 98% or higher for ALI synchronization to the GIS Road Centerline along with no critical errors, we have continued to fulfill these benchmarks.

• GLOBAL PANDEMIC:  As the pandemic continued into another year, we continued additional cleaning protocols, limited visitors in the dispatch center and did our best to limit our staff’s movement throughout the dispatch room.  We continue to ask additional screening questions on all calls keeping responders aware and protected.  

• STAFFING:  The additional full time Communications Operator that was approved for the FY2020 budget year completed training and is filling a shift as a floating full time Communications Operator and we are seeing the value in having an additional full-time staff member. 

• OPERATOR TRAINING:  We hosted training on Mental Health & Peer Support; learning both how we can help callers having a mental health crisis and how we can better take care of our own mental health and our peers.  Local partners with Sioux City Fire Rescue, Sioux City Police and Sioux Rivers staff provided the training.  Iowa Law Enforcement Academy staff provided training on Human Trafficking for Telecommunicators.  Both trainings were provided at no cost so there was not an opportunity to use funds available from the Community College. 

• CALEA ACCREDITATION:  The Communications Center was evaluated during our “virtual” on-site accreditation review and was awarded our 3^rd accreditation award by the CALEA Commission in November of 2021.  We are now in the 4-year process of re-accreditation again with annual online web-based assessments.

• CAD/RECORDS Management System: A contract was awarded to Motorola for a new Flex public safety software system. The system will encompass all public safety applications including CAD, Records and Jails with a go live date in the summer of 2022.

• NEXT GENERATION 911: In August of 2019 the State of Iowa received federal grant dollars to upgrade the State’s 911 Network. The initial project moved wireline 911 calls to the current wireless network and Woodbury County was provisioned in March of 2021.

• OPERATOR TRAINING:  Western Iowa Tech Community College has a scholarship fund that has funds available for dispatcher training.  We need to work with the college to identify and schedule training that both our staff and other dispatchers in the area would benefit from.  It is a great opportunity to host training at our center with reduced costs and no travel expenses for our staff.  It is also an opportunity for those to attend who do not choose to travel out of town overnight for other training  The State of Iowa 911 also has grant funds available for training; these funds are used quickly so we must be prepared to apply for some at the beginning of the fiscal year.  With the global pandemic all in person training was put on hold so we will continue to work on providing training the next budget year.

• Next Generation 911:  In August of 2019 the State of Iowa received federal grant dollars to upgrade the State’s 911 Network.  The initial project will move wireline 911 calls to the current wireless network.  Beyond that it will eventually roll out upgrades that will enable 911 answering points to accept video and picture messages.  We will work with the State of Iowa so that we continue to be on the leading edge of technology and able to offer these services to our community.

• CALEA Accreditation:  Continue to make CALEA Accreditation and best practices part of daily operations so our agency is continually and systematically reviewing itself for continual improvement.  We will have our on-site assessment in July of 2021.

• CAD/Records Management System:  A request for proposal was submitted and vendors have responded with proposals for a new CAD, Records Management, Jails & Fire reporting system.  All user agencies are involved in the process.  When the time comes to view products and make decisions, we will include dispatch staff in that process.

Woodbury County Communication Center improves 911 communications and emergency response through various funding projects.

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