ASHEVILLE — A Highway Patrol communications center in Asheville is among three such centers in the state slated for closing under a cost-cutting measure included in Gov. Pat McCrory’s proposed budget, a move some local critics say could affect public safety.
The plan calls for closing three of the state’s eight Highway Patrol communications centers — the other two are in Greensboro and Williamston — eliminating 36 civilian jobs and saving $1.8 million annually, N.C. Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Pam Walker said.
In addition, 12 other civil positions in those three locations would be moved to other Highway Patrol communications centers.
The plan, if it gets final legislative approval, would cost 14 dispatchers at the Asheville center their jobs.
The center at 600 Tunnel Road takes emergency calls from 17 Western North Carolina counties. Under the governor’s proposal, WNC calls would be routed through a Highway Patrol communications center in Newton.
Walker said the Newton center is undergoing technology upgrades to enable consolidation without sacrificing response times.
“We do not anticipate any impact on safety or response time,” Walker said.
“Regardless of where the communications center is located, that equipment enables us to send out the appropriate personnel to respond.”
The governor’s plan does not affect the number of troopers in WNC, she said.
Local Highway Patrol officials said they could not comment.
The Highway Patrol communications center is separate from City of Asheville and Buncombe County communications centers.
Buncombe emergency services director Jerry Vehaun said he hopes the local Highway Patrol center stays open. Local dispatchers know the mountains well, which can aid emergency responses, he said.
“I can see more of a down side than an up side,” Vehaun said. “They won’t have anybody in the western part of the state who is familiar with all the counties. They (local dispatchers) know where the communities are. They deal with it day after day.”
Barnardsville resident Debra Ellis has been working to bring attention to the issue after hearing about it from a friend.
“It’s a public safety issue,” Ellis said. “I don’t think due diligence has been done before adding this to the budget. When I started looking into this, I got really nervous. The last thing we need is to have a major disaster here and the communications center gets overloaded and people are unable to get help when they need it.”
Walker said if the cuts are finalized, “We will do all we can to assist the affected employees. Any time you have to make budget reductions, it is a painful process for everyone involved.”
The plan calls for closing three of the state’s eight Highway Patrol communications centers — the other two are in Greensboro and Williamston — eliminating 36 civilian jobs and saving $1.8 million annually, N.C. Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Pam Walker said.
In addition, 12 other civil positions in those three locations would be moved to other Highway Patrol communications centers.
The plan, if it gets final legislative approval, would cost 14 dispatchers at the Asheville center their jobs.
The center at 600 Tunnel Road takes emergency calls from 17 Western North Carolina counties. Under the governor’s proposal, WNC calls would be routed through a Highway Patrol communications center in Newton.
Walker said the Newton center is undergoing technology upgrades to enable consolidation without sacrificing response times.
“We do not anticipate any impact on safety or response time,” Walker said.
“Regardless of where the communications center is located, that equipment enables us to send out the appropriate personnel to respond.”
The governor’s plan does not affect the number of troopers in WNC, she said.
Local Highway Patrol officials said they could not comment.
The Highway Patrol communications center is separate from City of Asheville and Buncombe County communications centers.
Buncombe emergency services director Jerry Vehaun said he hopes the local Highway Patrol center stays open. Local dispatchers know the mountains well, which can aid emergency responses, he said.
“I can see more of a down side than an up side,” Vehaun said. “They won’t have anybody in the western part of the state who is familiar with all the counties. They (local dispatchers) know where the communities are. They deal with it day after day.”
Barnardsville resident Debra Ellis has been working to bring attention to the issue after hearing about it from a friend.
“It’s a public safety issue,” Ellis said. “I don’t think due diligence has been done before adding this to the budget. When I started looking into this, I got really nervous. The last thing we need is to have a major disaster here and the communications center gets overloaded and people are unable to get help when they need it.”
Walker said if the cuts are finalized, “We will do all we can to assist the affected employees. Any time you have to make budget reductions, it is a painful process for everyone involved.”
