Letter to the Editor: Is Emergency Government's proposal to take over the Dispatch Center a power grab?

(The following Letter to the Editor is being submitted by C. Dennis Ohlert of Decorah):

"The Emergency Management Board is proposing that it take over supervision of the Decorah/Winneshiek Communications Center.  As a retired (35 years of service) dispatcher/9-1-1 operator, I have a few questions and comments:
 
Exactly how does the board propose to "improve" the service?  Or is this merely a power grab?  Why does the board feel the mutually shared equipment needs to be supervised by them?

I would submit that a board member(s) hanging out in the Center micro-managing the operators could be a detriment to the service received by citizens of the county, law enforcement, and medical emergency personnel.  The operators are not just glorified secretaries.  They are required

I suggest, if this proposal is adopted, that board members be required to go through the same training and certification as the operators and gain experience by actually doing the job before they are allowed to "supervise".

I would further suggest that if the board has its stated access to vast monetary resources, they work within the system to make a contribution to the Center, rather than try to take it over.

Again I ask, is this merely a power grab?"