Rep. John Barnes (D-HD89)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 28, 2009

BARNES SEEKS TO PROTECT BEECH GROVE 911 SERVICES

BEECH GROVE – State Rep. John Barnes (D-Indianapolis) announced today that he will file legislation to protect the city of Beech Grove from state laws that would cause the community to lose its own emergency 911 dispatch services.

Appearing with a group of local leaders, Barnes said he will author a bill in the 2010 session of the Indiana General Assembly to exempt Beech Grove from provisions of a 2008 law that prevents Indiana counties from having more than two dispatch centers. If enacted, Barnes’ proposal would enable Lawrence and Speedway to keep their dispatch centers as well.

“The new proposed city budget for Beech Grove seeks to outsource the city’s 911 dispatch service to Speedway in an effort to save crucial funds,” Barnes said. “One of the arguments being made by Mayor Joe Wright in favor of this proposal is that legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2008 (House Enrolled Act 1204) provides that no county Indiana may have more than two dispatch centers, also known as PSAPs.

“Since Marion County will have to eliminate some dispatch services within the next few years, the mayor is convinced that Beech Grove might as well start to divest themselves of these services and try to save some money right now,” he added.

By authoring legislation to exempt Beech Grove and other Marion County “cities within the city (of Indianapolis)” from the 2008 state law, Barnes said he is following community sentiments.

“I am not alone in thinking that outsourcing or eliminating dispatch services from Beech Grove is a dangerous move,” Barnes said.

“The dispatchers in Beech Grove are highly-trained experts who know their community like the backs of their hands,” the legislator noted. “For example, they would know that many well-known streets change names as they go through Beech Grove. To cite two such instances, Troy becomes Albany in Beech Grove and Sherman becomes 17th Street when it goes through the city.

“Locals understand these unique aspects of the city as no one else does,” Barnes said. “It is my fear that outsourcing emergency dispatch services to another area that might be unfamiliar with Beech Grove might cause calls to be delayed. When lives are at risk, I do not feel that we can afford to be cutting costs.”

Since coming to the Indiana House, Barnes has been a strong proponent of many types of local government consolidation, particularly when the taxpayers are asking for a smaller, leaner, more efficient operation.

“Decreasing revenues statewide will continue to push all of us to find more cost-effective ways to run local government,” Barnes said. “However, there’s a difference between consolidating bureaucratic responsibilities and cutting funding for public safety. While one saves money, the other endangers the most vulnerable citizens whose very lives depend on quick and efficient responses from emergency medical technicians and police and fire personnel.

“If there is a state law that is forcing communities like Beech Grove to make those unpalatable decisions, I pledge to do my part to restore some order and protect the people of this community,” he concluded.

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