[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E125]]
    IN HONOR OF THE NEW EMERGENCY SERVICES CENTER OF MONTEREY COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 2005

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Monterey County's new 
Emergency Services Center. This state-of-the-art essential services 
facility houses the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Office 
of Emergency Services, as well as the consolidated 9-1-1 Dispatch 
Center, which serves public safety agencies and virtually all 420,000 
residents of Monterey County. The need for this facility and its 
coordinated, integrated approach to emergency and communications 
services was starkly highlighted during the floods that devastated the 
county in 1995. Harry Robins, Emergency Services Manager, identified 
the necessary improvements in planning, budgeting, fiscal constraints, 
design, construction and installation of equipment, never wavering in 
his commitment to the vision of what this facility should be, and what 
it would mean to the people of Monterey County.
  Joining the county mid-stream in this planning effort was Emergency 
Communications Director Lynn Diebold, who solidified community backing 
and obtained fiscal support from every city and public safety agency 
served by the unique thirty-year partnership known as ``County Comm''. 
The final piece of the support and funding puzzle was achieved when I 
was able to secure approval for a HUD technology grant of nearly one 
million dollars. This funding ensured that the facility would be 
properly equipped to handle the day-to-day calls for police, fire and 
emergency medical calls for service, as well as improved the county's 
ability to respond regionally, with all local and State agencies, 
during any wildland fire, flood, earthquake or man-made disaster. These 
Federal grant funds were used to purchase essential telecommunications 
equipment and planning expertise, critical to meeting the joint 
missions of Emergency Services and Emergency Communications.
  The County Board of Supervisors, City Mayors and Councils, Fire 
District Boards and public safety organizations throughout the county 
are justifiably proud of their partnership with each other and the 
Federal government on this important regional project. Board of 
Supervisors Chair Lou Calcagno remarked at the official opening in 
August 2004, that he was ``particularly pleased that in these 
challenging fiscal times, this facility was built on time, on budget 
and is 100 percent paid for.'' He added, ``With no financing or bonds 
to pay off, this project is a testament to the good planning and hard 
work of county staff and the support and financial participation of our 
partner cities and Federal government''. City of Monterey Mayor, Dan 
Albert, who serves as the Chair of the Emergency Communications Policy 
Advisory Council, acknowledged the dedication and hard work of the 911 
dispatchers and staff who handle over 600,000 911 and non-emergency 
telephone calls and more than 500,000 dispatch incidents annually.
  Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to be able to do my part in helping secure 
funding for this project. I join my colleagues in celebrating the 
opening of this building that has so many significant benefits to the 
county, and in thanking all those who work here for their commitment to 
the welfare of their fellow citizens.

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