3 takeaways from this week's Bernalillo County Commission meeting
Mar. 6—Bernalillo County commissioners recognized two emergency agencies and committed to a jail upgrade at Tuesday night's regular commission meeting.
1. MDC needs a new call button system.
Bernalillo County needs to upgrade the call button system in the Metropolitan Detention Center by March 22, or the county will have to set aside $210,000 to make more safety and security improvements at MDC.
The requirement is part of the McClendon settlement — the result of a decades old class-action lawsuit alleging MDC and the county were violating inmate rights.
2. Bernalillo Fire and Rescue has a new accreditation.
Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue achieved Accredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. Fire department employees took the opportunity to advocate for pay increases.
The department has been working to achieve the accreditation for four years, County Manager Julie Morgas Baca said. The Bernalillo County Commission recognized the achievement Tuesday.
Five fire department employees also spoke during public comment asking for better compensation.
3. County emergency communications recognized for excellence.
Bernalillo County's Emergency Communications was recognized by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch as an Accredited Center of Excellence. County commissioners recognized the department for the accomplishment.
The department "demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality processes and a commitment to data driven continuous improvement as part of the process to complete accreditation," said County Manager Julie Morgas Baca.
"If you think being a dispatcher is an easy job, it is not," Emergency Communications Director Vernon Thompson said. "Basically, you have one chance to get a call right as much as you possibly can. You can't go back. And that covers fire, medical and law. This team behind me, they're as tough and resilient as professionals as you'll ever find."
