Top Left: Joe Kramer, Randy Yates, Dave Camburn, Roger Cronk, Don Glasgow, Dale Morey, Kenny Debri Middle Left: Allen Bross, Phyllis Fuller, Kurt Worm, Sue Rose, Che’rie White, Michelle James, Roxann Volosky Bottom Left: Sue Chase, Stephanie Lehman, Leslie Parrish		NOTICE OF MEETING Barry County Central Dispatch Administrative Board Meeting September 27, 2010  2:00 pm Hastings Township Hall 885 River Rd. Hastings, MI 49058 **************************** Barry County Central Dispatch Technical Committee Meeting September 20, 2010  2:00pm Hastings Township Hall
The Barry County Central Dispatch center will be celebrating National Telecommunicators week April  11-17th.  The importance of 9-1-1 telecommunicators and the job they do is priceless to the health and safety of Barry County residents.  The 9-1-1 centers’ 14 telecommunicators handle well over 100,000 telephone calls each year.  They also dispatch and coordinate the county’s police, fire, and ambulances--  last year Barry County Central Dispatch telecommunicators dispatched 38,090 calls for service. The role of a telecommunicator is done behind the scenes and they are not often recognized or acknowledged for their hard work and dedication.  They never know what the emergency is going to be so they have to be prepared for everything all of the time.  The citizens of Barry County can be proud of the fact that they have some of the finest and most well trained telecommunicators in the State of Michigan. All telecommunicators have two constant companions; other dispatchers and stress.  They are chastened by upset callers, taken for granted by the public, and criticized by officers.  The rewards they get are infrequent; except for the satisfaction they feel at the end of a shift having done what they are expected to do to the best of their ability.  Please join me this week in thanking the telecommunicators who take care of the citizens of Barry County! Phyllis Fuller, Director
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BURN PERMITS 

Barry County Central Dispatch and your local fire departments would like to remind all Barry County residents that they must obtain a burn permit before burning any yard debris while doing their spring clean up.  If you are burning yard debris such as leaves, twigs or dead brush you are required under state law to have a burn permit.  A burn permit is required any time there is not snow cover on the ground.  Burning in an approved metal barrel with a lid and holes smaller than three-quarter of an inch in diameter does not require a permit.

Please observe the following safety tips when burning yard debris:

• Have garden tools, a water hose or other source of water on hand whenever you are burning outside.
• be sure any outdoor fire is completely extinguished before leaving it....use plenty of water to extinguish your fire and wet everything thoroughly.
• If your fire escapes your control, call for help immediately.

Citizens living in the following townships:  Barry, Castleton, Hope, Johnstown, Maple Grove, Orangeville, Prairieville, and Woodland should call Barry County Central Dispatch at 269-948-4800 ext 1.  A dispatcher will ask you for your name, address, nearest cross street to your address, your telephone number and what you are burning. 

Citizens living in Assyria Township can call the Bellevue Fire Department at 269-763-3262.  

Citizens living in the following townships:  Hastings, Baltimore, Irving, Carlton, and Rutland, should call Hastings Fire Department at 269-945-5384. 

Citizens living in Thornapple or Yankee Springs Township should call 269-795-7243. 

Burn permits will not be issued for any building/demolition materials or any other man made materials.  Failure to obtain a burn permit may result in a citation or a bill for the fire departments response if the fire gets out of control and the fire department has to respond.   Burn permits are issued on a day to day basis only and are free.