This week, April 8^th through the 14^th, is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon told the Board of Supervisors during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning, that the week is set aside to recognize the role 9-1-1 dispatchers and communication center operators have in public safety. Kennon said there is over 70-years of experience at the Cass County Communications Center, spread among seven dispatchers. The least experienced member has three-years behind the console. Another has over 20-years worth of experience. The ratio of employees is equal, male-to-female. He said it’s a very diverse group. Their ages span from 20-to 50. Some have had prior experience in dispatching, including State Radio (Iowa State Patrol) and from other dispatch centers across the state.

Kennon says all that experience will come in handy with the way technology is evolving. He said last year they began to accept text-to-911 messages. In the coming years, they’ll be able to take pictures- and videos-to 911 information. He said in the future, dispatchers will be tasked to do more, not less where their job is concerned.

In other business, the Cass County Board of Supervisors approved the appointment of Chuck Burnett, of Atlantic, to the Cass County Zoning Board of Adjustment, to replace a member of the Board who passed away earlier this year. And, the Board tabled the appointment of a Cass County Weed Commissioner until their next meeting. The Board also approved a request from the City of Atlantic, to abate all tax, penalties and interest on a total of 10 city-owned parcels. They also passed a Resolution entering into an agreement to abate the tax and assign a tax certificate on a County-held Tax Sale Certificate for a parcel in Cumberland, and Griswold.