Long-time Commissioner James E. Tamlyn is winding down his final year on the Emmet County Board of Commissioners and on June 1 he was recognized by the tri-county 9-1-1 dispatch authority board for his incomparable contributions to emergency response services in Northern Michigan.
The Charlevoix Cheboygan Emmet 9-1-1 Central Dispatch Authority (CCE) presented Tamlyn with a plaque of appreciation and also words of praise for his 25 years of service to the residents and visitors of Emmet County and Northwest Michigan.
The recognition plaque reads, “(The CCE Authority) wishes to extend their deepest appreciation to James E. Tamlyn in recognition of his vision and leadership to bring the three counties together to build a 9-1-1 system that is second to none. Your dedication is greatly appreciated.”
Tamlyn has said he is not seeking re-election this November. Tamlyn’s first term on the Board was 25 years ago, in 1991. From 1993 until 1998 he served as chairman, and then was re-elected to that post in 2003, serving continuously since. He previously served for several years as the 9-1-1 Board Chairman as well.
During the 9-1-1 Board’s annual meeting, board secretary John Wallace, a Cheboygan County Commissioner, noted that it was Tamlyn’s idea about 23 years ago to unite the three local counties in developing an emergency response network.
“From the conception it was Jim’s idea to bring the three counties together. Prior to that, the counties really did not get along; there was a lot of distrust and the counties had never cooperated on a project before. It was unheard of,” Wallace recalled.
Tamlyn was able to bring representatives from Emmet, Charlevoix and Cheboygan together for the greater good – to establish a 9-1-1 service and create a model agency in the state and nation.
“Back in 1990, if you picked up a phone book you would see all these different numbers to call in an emergency depending on what community you were in – Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Indian River,” Tamlyn recalled. “It becomes extremely difficult if you’re a tourist and you need help to know where to call. There were not cell phones at the time. Say you’re in a motel room, or you’ve rented a cottage and your husband has just had a heart attack. You’d dial zero and get an operator out of Saginaw or somewhere downstate, and you would try to describe where you were or give an address and they’d try to figure out the nearest emergency responder to get you help.
“The process was cumbersome, to say the least.”
A group of local emergency response leaders, including Tamlyn, had begun talking about what it would take to establish 9-1-1 here, but it was slow to gain traction. They thought if they could get a seat on the Emmet County Board of Commissioners and get county support, the movement might gain momentum. Tamlyn was tapped to run for the District 1 seat vacated by Leroy Gregory, and he was elected.
Tamlyn talked with then-Sheriff Richard Zink about utilizing jail employees and the jail building to house a center for 9-1-1 and to take calls, but Zink noted his own staffing limitations and space concerns.
“He said, you’ll need a new building and you’ll have to get your own employees. And he said the radios are terrible too, so you’ll need a whole new communications system. All of a sudden I was pretty staggered with how much we needed to get this thing off the ground,” Tamlyn said.
He contacted Commander Bill Atkins at the Michigan State Police post in Petoskey, who had experience running 9-1-1 operations in the Lansing area. With Atkins’ insights, Tamlyn said bringing the three counties together would be the most feasible way to make the dispatch center work.
“He said, ‘Well that’s a great idea Jim and if you can even get two of the counties to work together, I’ll vote for you for governor,’” Tamlyn recalled with a laugh.
Tamlyn reached out to Charlevoix and Cheboygan County leaders, who first declined to join forces but later agreed after a Bay City consultant laid the benefits out clearly for all involved. “The consultant said, it’s very feasible, it’s very cost-effective and you’ll also save a bunch of money,” Tamlyn said.
In 1996, the 9-1-1 authority became operational from home base in Petoskey and it has served as a model for other communities since. Through the years, Tamlyn and others involved have been asked to guide other communities in developing cooperative emergency response centers.
“Jim had no trouble going to Lansing and Washington DC to testify and try to get money for these operations. He was able to secure grants and some federal loans through the help of (former Congressman) Bart Stupak,” Wallace said. “Jim’s been a great guy for the community, and this whole area, in fact. His foresight and leadership got a lot of this stuff done around here. His soul has been community service.”
Dan Plasencia, Emmet County Commissioner District 4 and vice-chairman of the Board, said Tamlyn has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to emergency services – including time as a paramedic and an Army Medic — and deserves the recognition.
“Jim has really championed emergency services in Emmet County. He has worked very hard for many years to make sure we have a state-of-the-art network that has kept up with the times and changing technology,” Plasencia said. “He’s devoted his life to emergency services and to ensuring the safety of residents and visitors to this area.”
Plasencia added, “The community may not realize how much time, energy and thoughtfulness Jim has devoted to this issue, along with many others. We will miss his leadership and appreciate all he has done.”
