911 chief stepping down amidst criticism
By MARY PERHAM CORNING LEADER

BATH - Under mounting pressure from the public and growing scrutiny from Steuben County legislators, county 911 Director Tim Wixom has informed county officials he will resign.

County Administrator Mark Alger last week said Wixom turned in a brief letter of resignation Wednesday afternoon, indicating his last day in office will be Aug. 8. Alger said the county will begin to search for a new director immediately.

"We're going to try and get the ads out, and get the resumes back, as soon as possible," Alger said. "This is not a position I care to see empty for very long and we will pursue a replacement vigorously."

Alger said 911 Assistant Director Tina Goodwin will oversee the daily operations during the interim, and prior plans to review 911 operations will likely move forward.

After a smooth start at the helm of the fledgling 911 program, Wixom has been subject to growing public and private criticism in recent years. He was hired in June 2003 to replace Keener Cortright, after Cortright ran afoul of county legislators due to construction cost overruns and other difficulties.

Under Wixom's guidance, the county untangled the massive readdressing project required for the 911 start-up and installed a sophisticated computer-aided dispatch system. Wixom also promoted a Pictometry system allowing dispatchers to have photographed aerial views of the county.

"He's done a good job, getting us on line and moving us toward where we want to be," Alger said...

The county's 911 Center opened in June 2005...But as time went on, the public and emergency responders became highly critical of the system and how calls were dispatched. ..Issues included the length of time it took to dispatch calls, the protocols used to send emergency units, the inability to retain trained 911 staff, and soaring overtime costs...ast fall, Wixom recommended the county hire a consultant to consider ways to make the system more efficient. ..He blamed the overtime expenditures on the high turnover rate, and the inexperienced staff for errors in dispatching...Wixom also defended the length of time dispatchers used to contact help by saying residents confused it with the length of time it takes emergency services to arrive on the scene. ..Matters reached a critical head in January when legislators learned Wixom had not made good on his promise to move to Steuben County. ..Wixom accepted the position on the condition he could live in Ontario County until his children graduated from school. Wixom estimated then he would move to Steuben in a couple of years. ..But with that deadline long past, legislators began to press him to move to the county as a way to save costs for his countyowned vehicle and become a presence in the community. ..Wixom responded by first saying he intended to live in Wayland or Cohocton, adding as long as he kept the county vehicle there, his private travels were his business. ..In early June Wixom said he would buy a house in Bath or Corning, but then announced at the July meeting of the Legislature's Public Safety and Corrections Committee he would live in Avoca...Wixom declined to answer repeated calls from The Leader for clarification on his Avoca address and residency plans. ..County officials praised Wixom's efforts at the center...The Legislature's Public Safety and Corrections Committee Chairman Fran Gehl, D-Corning City, said Wixom turned the faltering 911 program around..."I give him full credit for that," Gehl said. "He was a lot better than Cortright. He was a breath of fresh air compared to Cortright."..Legislature Chairman Philip Roche, RErwin, also gave Wixom full marks for his untiring work on behalf of the mammoth program..."Tim was an outstanding county employee," Roche said. "We will be hard pressed to find someone to replace him." ..Alger said he could not comment on Wixom's future plans or on reports Wixom had accepted a job with Pictometry...Wixom did not return The Leader's calls Wednesday for comment.