HomeMy WebLinkAboutETSB Minutes 101625 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: Jenna Hunt, PSB Records Clerk
DATE: October 17, 2025
SUBJECT: Galesburg/Knox E.T.S.B. Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 16, 2025
The regular meeting of the Galesburg/Knox County Emergency Telephone Systems Board (E.T.S.B.) was held on
Thursday, October 16, 2025 at 09:00 a.m. in the Police Chief’s office of the Public Safety Building, 150 S Broad Street,
Galesburg, Illinois, 61401.
PRESENT: Galesburg Police Chief Kevin Legate- E.T.S.B. Chairman, Galesburg Fire Chief Randy Hovind, Richard Springer-
G.H.A.S., Bill Stone- WIFA Representative, Nate Clark- Motorola Representative, Sid Carlson – EMS Member-at-Large,
Raymundo Martinez- IT, Amanda Jennings- 911 Coordinator, and Jenna Hunt – Records Clerk
ABSENT: Sheriff Jack Harlan- E.T.S.B Vice Chairman, Jared Hawkinson- Knox County Board Member, Robin Davis- Knox
County Treasurer, and Zachary Crowl- Member-at-Large
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: 09:04 a.m. by Galesburg Police Chief Kevin Legate. Member Springer motioned to approve
the minutes of the August 21, 2025 meeting. Member Carlson gave a second motion. Motion passed.
APPROVE:
FINANCIAL REPORT: The current fund balance is $2,356,856.89
Liabilities:
Month Bill Totals
September $1,124,621.58
October $272,519.85
Recent expenses have been substantial. Starcom is halfway paid for the new radio systems. Additionally, new phone
system switches were purchased, with half of the cost paid at this time. Member Carlson motioned to approve the
financial report. Fire Chief Hovind seconded. Motion approved.
REPORTS:
AMANDA JENNINGS- Galesburg/Knox County 9-1-1 Coordinator
Month 911 &
Admin Total
911 Calls Cell Landline VOIP Abandoned
August 11,060 2,205 1,832 41 314 153
September 9,417 2,112 1,754 43 304 152
Amanda reported the following:
Overall call volume has remained steady, though EMS calls have been increasing. One newly hired dispatcher
resigned due to personal circumstances. Another trainee currently in floor training is expected to be released to
independent duty in mid-December. Another newer dispatcher will begin floor training on November 11th, and a new
hire is scheduled to start on October 27th.
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEMS BOARD
Operating Under Council – Manager Government Since 1957
Nine dispatchers will attend the IPSTA Pre-Conference class on Sunday, with four attending the full IPSTA Conference in
Springfield.
Discussions were held regarding potential updates to fire dispatch SOPs for improved standardization. There was
also discussion of House and Senate bills related to a surcharge increase, as well as concerns regarding CESSA. It was
noted that assistance from other agencies will be required to address CESSA concerns, and members were encouraged
to contact local legislators.
NATE CLARK- Motorola
The Henry County Starcom project is now live. He has been working at the Public Safety Building on the local
Starcom project and will continue to be on-site frequently in the coming months.
RANDY HOVIND- Galesburg Fire Department
The fire department remains in contract negotiations, with hopes of a near resolution. If not resolved soon,
budget and staffing concerns may arise. The department is currently short one staff member. Construction on the
dormitory remodel is expected to be completed around November 20th. The Emergency Management Agency has not
yet received notification regarding grant funding at either the state or federal level.
BILL STONE-WIFA
There have been numerous field fires recently, with significant mutual aid activity among departments that has
worked well. Some radio issues are being investigated. Brightspeed is unwilling to install or maintain copper wiring for
the antenna on the Henderson water tower, which may prevent installation unless another provider is secured to
complete and maintain the wiring.
JARED HAWKINSON- Knox County Board
Absent
RICHARD SPRINGER- G.H.A.S.
He reported no formal updates, other than G.H.A.S. recording a new 24-hour call volume record of 74 calls last
month, surpassing the previous record of 62.
SID CARLSON-Member-at-Large
He reported no formal items, noting only that call volumes remain high.
KEVIN LEGATE- Galesburg Police Department
The department is currently fully staffed but will lose one officer next week. Two officers are presently in FTO.
Five new officers are anticipated to be hired and sent to the academy in January. Entry-level testing will conclude at the
end of the month, pending final paperwork. Promotional eligibility lists have been posted, and several retirements are
anticipated early next year.
JACK HARLAN- Board Vice Chairman & Sheriff
Absent
ZACHARY CROWL-Member-at-Large
Absent
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEMS BOARD
Operating Under Council – Manager Government Since 1957
OLD BUSINESS
Renovations for the new dispatch center are progressing well and are nearing completion. Several minor items
remain to be finalized, but the facility is shaping up very well.
The Starcom link approved at the previous meeting is still in progress. IT will be meeting with Stratus next week,
and meetings with Motorola continue every other week. Overall, the project is progressing well. Work still required at
the backup center includes a site survey to correct latitude and longitude discrepancies for FCC licensing purposes,
additional minor tasks, and grounding of the tower.
NEW BUSINESS
No new business was presented.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
Member Carlson motioned to adjourn the meeting at 10:22 a.m. Member Springer seconded. Meeting adjourned.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 9:00 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