MOUNT VERNON — Brian Hess, Knox County Emergency Management Agency director/9-1-1 coordinator, told the Knox County 9-1-1 Board on Wednesday that Jan. 26 is the new “go live” date for the new Computer Assisted Dispatch system being installed at the city and county 9-1-1 dispatch centers.

“All of the training for CAD and the dispatcher training is finished,” Hess told the board.

Emergitech had recommended a local vendor be hired by the board to provide ongoing support at the dispatch centers for the new system. The board approved a motion to hire ECR for such support.

Hess said he had no complaint with ECR’s previous work in the dispatch center.

Deputy EMA Director Matt Sturgeon said the Communications Committee, which was formed to formulate a five- or 10-year plan for the emergency communications in the county, is looking at hiring a consultant to assist with drawing up the plan.

The board also approved a motion to expand the Communication Committee’s participation with the Central Ohio Regional Interoperability Committee.

Hess requested approval to send the six new lead dispatchers to a training meeting in Washington, D.C., in March. The board approved the trip, which will cost less than $3,000 for all six dispatchers and Hess.

Beginning this year, the board will meet on a monthly basis.

After meeting in executive session, the board announced it had accepted the resignation of board member John Hammond, who represented the Board of Knox County EMS.