HomeMy WebLinkAboutETSB Minutes 022025 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEMS BOARD
Operating Under Council – Manager Government Since 1957
Galesburg/Knox County Emergency Telephone Systems Board (E.T.S.B.) Minutes
TO: Galesburg/Knox County Emergency Telephone Systems (E.T.S.B.) Board Members
FROM: Amanda Jennings, 9-1-1 Coordinator/Administrative Support Supervisor
DATE: February 21 , 2025
SUBJECT: Galesburg/Knox E.T.S.B. Meeting Minutes Thursday, February 20, 2025
The regular meeting of the Galesburg/Knox County Emergency Telephone Systems Board (E.T.S.B.) was held on
Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 09:00 a.m. in the Chief’s office of the Public Safety Building, 150 S Broad Street,
Galesburg, Illinois, 61401.
PRESENT: Galesburg Police Chief Russell Idle- E.T.S.B. Chairman, Sheriff Jack Harlan- E.T.S.B Vice Chairman, Fire Chief
Randy Hovind, Richard Springer- G.H.A.S., Bill Stone- WIFA Representative, Sid Carlson- Member-at-Large, Nate Clark-
Motorola Representative, Raymundo Martinez- IT, Amanda Jennings- 911 Coordinator and Brittni Carr- Records Clerk
ABSENT: Jared Hawkinson- Knox County Board Member, Zachary Crowl- Member-at-Large and Robin Davis- Knox
County Treasurer
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: 09:05 a.m. by Chairman Idle. Board Member Springer motioned to approve the minutes of
the December 19, 2024 meeting. Vice Chairman Harlan gave a second motion. Approved.
APPROVE:
FINANCIAL REPORT: The current fund balance is $4,104,065.16
Liabilities:
Month Bill Totals
January $101,436.73
February $147,179.36
Fire Chief Hovind motioned to approve the financial report. Member Springer seconded. Motion approved.
REPORTS:
AMANDA JENNINGS- Galesburg/Knox County 9-1-1 Coordinator
Month 911 &
Admin Total
911 Calls Cell Landline VOIP Abandoned
December 9,003 1,806 1,481 62 253 151
2024
TOTALS
120,386 25,180 20,560 1,418 3,022 1,849
January 8,965 1,713 1,383 51 270 108
Amanda shared the following staffing update:
- Current trainee will be released on March 3, 2025 and is doing fantastic.
- Three attended pipeline training and two were at the MABAS conference.
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEMS BOARD
Operating Under Council – Manager Government Since 1957
NATE CLARK- Motorola
Supreme Radio was purchased by Mobile Communications America, Inc. (MCA). Other than the name, nothing
else will change. Contracts will be up for renewal in a couple months. MCA will not sell GETAC, however they will
maintain the system. Chairman Idle questioned if a switch by GPD to a different camera vendor in 2026 would cause
issues for KCSO. Discussion held. All GPD squad cars are finished. Nate is working on getting the backup dispatch center
up and running.
RANDY HOVIND- Galesburg Fire Department
Brock Schmitt is now Deputy Chief of Operations, as John Seitz was moved to Fire Marshall and is doing fire
prevention. Three new firefighters were hired and going to the academy, currently still down one. The Department will
be testing an equipped squad car as a quick response vehicle to save wear on the current larger vehicle. In regards to
EMA, software for sirens will be going out for bid. Further discussion will need to be conducted.
BILL STONE-WIFA
Everything is moving along well. They are redoing the smoke canisters and flooring at the training site so that it
is safer for trainees. Bill voiced concerns of their radio frequency being bogged down and confusing during some
incidents with multiple other agencies and units. Discussion was held with Nate regarding other options, with Nate
recommending Starcom. Both understand there would be money concerns and grants needed.
JARED HAWKINSON- Knox County Board
Absent
RICHARD SPRINGER- G.H.A.S.
Call volume was posted from last year. The ambulance vehicles are taking a beating, but they are having to
replace engines instead of buying new. The wait time for a new ambulance is currently two to two and a half years. Part
of the issue is long distance transport from St. Mary’s to other cities. The quick response vehicle is also racking up miles
and has been hard to keep staffed. G.H.A.S. will be implementing new protocols and advanced trainings.
SID CARLSON-Member-at-Large
None
RUSSELL IDLE- Board Chairman & Police Chief
Everything is moving along smoothly. The Department is relatively fully staffed with possible changes coming
soon on both the sworn and civilian sides.
JACK HARLAN- Board Vice Chairman & Sheriff
Getting ready to hire a new animal control officer as well as one correction position and they will be fully
staffed. They plan to turn KC2 into an encrypted channel for their department only and use KC1 for everyone else. Both
channels will be monitored. Changes would have to be made in dispatch for it to work. Two deputies in training are
getting ready to be on their own, but they are short on vehicles due to accidents. The jail population is over 100 with
approximately 35 inmates being federal or out of county holds. They had to go back to the tier system for the safety of
staff and inmates.
ZACHARY CROWL-Member-at-Large
Absent
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEMS BOARD
Operating Under Council – Manager Government Since 1957
OLD BUSINESS
The backup dispatch center is very close to being completed. Hoping to have it finished by the time construction
starts on the new center upstairs. That way, in the event that construction is too loud for first shift dispatchers, they
could operate from the backup. Valley Construction plans to demo from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Discussion was held regarding issues with the data cables not being terminated at the backup center. Formal
motion was made by Board Member Springer for the $5,000.00 change order to complete and test the data cabling. Fire
Chief Hovind seconded. Motion approved. Further discussion held.
NEW BUSINESS
The annual meeting calendar was presented for the year. Board Member Stone motioned to approve. Board
Member Springer seconded. All in favor. Motion approved.
Amanda presented a loose budget for the year, incorporating items that have been previously discussed at
meetings regarding upcoming projects and foreseeable costs. Fire Chief Hovind motioned to approve the budget.
Member Springer seconded. Motion approved.
Chairman Idle encouraged members not to put more salaries into the ETSB budget, as the money will be needed
to build and maintain infrastructure. Discussion held.
Member Springer voiced concerns regarding London Mills not currently providing an ambulance service.
Communication has been difficult. It will be the trustees of London Mills’ responsibility.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comments.
Vice Chairman Harlan moved to adjourn the meeting which was seconded by Fire Chief Hovind at 10:08 a.m. Meeting
adjourned. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Galesburg Public Safety
Building, 150 South Broad Street, Galesburg, Illinois.
cc: Kelli Bennewitz, City Clerk
Media
Emergency Telephone Systems Board
150 South Broad Street • Galesburg, IL 61401 • 309/345-3729 • www.ci.galesburg.il.us