Emergency 911 dispatcher Lisa Buchanan adjusts the sound on her telephone earpiece set while sitting at one of the new desk consoles purchased for the 911 office. (The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[04/09/01] New furniture at the 911 offices is helping to make life easier for the dispatchers there.

Emergency 911 director Lynn Marsalis said the furniture was installed in three days about two weeks ago.

“This has made the work space much more concentrated,” he said.

The four consoles, which hold four computers for dispatchers, have increased the comfort level for the 14 dispatchers who answered 17,892 calls from January to March, Marsalis said.

The height on the new consoles is adjustable so the dispatchers don’t have to sit throughout their 12-hour shifts.

“There is a fan at each console with a HEPA filter in it and softer lights,” he said.

The furniture was purchased from Domore Dispatch Furniture for $39,000, Marsalis said.

“There is a bit more privacy with the new equipment, and when someone starts their shift they can personalize their work area,” he said.

A fifth console was installed but without any computer equipment since there is not another dispatcher to work at it.

Marsalis said he hopes to hire another dispatcher next year if the money is available.

He said getting the more streamlined consoles has been a concern during his 3 1/2 years at 911 . “We are going to be good space wise for about 10 years now.”

The nicer 911 digs came just in time to celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, which starts today and ends Saturday.

“Most of the general public has no idea how hard the people here work and they really deserve praise,” Marsalis said.

The old furniture will be used in the alternate 911 offices being built on Halls Ferry Road, and eventually it will be sold to another county, Marsalis said.

The alternate offices should be operational this summer and can be used in case of a disruption at the current offices.