Much has been written in the past several months about challenges faced by Knox County government. From the issue related to the Knox Regional Communications Center (KRCC) to the sudden departure of the former long-time county administrator, it is reasonable to expect that taxpayers would wonder what's going on. I hope the following will answer some questions, and provide a better understanding of the current situation.  

Like any organization managing change or transition — any company or business — the bigger story goes untold. For Knox County, that story is one that should highlight the merits of the dedicated public service employees who work every day to serve those of us who live here. 
 
Those employees include the caring women and men who staff the phones and the radios inside the KRCC. These are the people, our friends and neighbors, who are there for us when we need emergency services and who send the first responders to our rescue.
 
In spite of recent reports about that department, the fact remains that those emergency communications professionals and their supervisory staff, with support from Waldo County for several more weeks, continue to handle the critical task of coordinating the quick and efficient responses of a score of fire, EMS and law enforcement agencies throughout the county.
 
Together with our municipal partners and other stakeholders, the county is exploring whether or not the current KRCC model is the best model. At the same time, one municipality is proactively investigating the prospect of opening its own Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), and what that would look like. As we move forward and when firm plans are in place, more information will be shared. To dribble bits and pieces of speculative and evolving data prematurely would be irresponsible. 
 
In the meantime, the county’s plan for improvement and ultimate restoration of a vertically integrated PSAP is being reviewed by the Maine Emergency Services Communication Bureau, a division of Maine’s Public Utilities Commission which has oversight of the two dozen PSAP operations throughout the state.
 
There are many other fine people who are employed by Knox County, the vast majority of whom the average citizen may never get the chance to meet or interact with. The various departments are staffed by well trained and seasoned workers who go to work every day on our behalf. These include our sheriff's deputies who patrol our rural roadways and the corrections officers who oversee our jail population; the folks who keep our airport running smoothly, and the emergency management agency staff who prepare for, monitor and react to both natural and man-made disasters; the folks who work at the courthouse handling deeds, probate, the prosecution of criminal acts and who handle other legal matters; and those in administration, finance, information technology and facility management. Each of these individuals are worthy of our recognition and appreciation.
 
Although my assignment with the county is temporary, I will do my best during my time in this role to work closely with the elected county commissioners and senior staff to ensure that Knox County residents continue to receive the highest level of services possible for their tax investment. 

Gordon Page, Sr., is interim Knox County Administrator