Lakewood City Manager Andrew Neiditz was named Monday as one of three finalists for executive director of South Sound 911, the new agency working to build a seamless emergency communications system in Pierce County.
The other two finalists are David Moseley, Washington State Ferries director and former city manager of Federal Way, and Jack Harper II, city manager of Hillsboro, Texas. Hillsboro has a population of 8,456, according to the 2010 census.
Neiditz, who has been with Lakewood since 2005, was runner-up for Tacoma city manager a year ago.
In November 2011, Pierce County voters approved raising the sales tax by a penny on every $10 purchase to help build a combined radio network and two new dispatch centers. The tax increase took effect in April.
The upgraded radio system for emergency responders will comply with new federal standards for so-called “narrow-banding” and replace a patchwork of incompatible radio systems.
The executive director will be selected in stages by police, fire and dispatch leaders along with elected officials representing member agencies and contracting cities and towns. The position has an annual salary range of $175,000 to $205,000, said Jim Sharp, project manager for South Sound 911.
Member agencies of South Sound 911 are Pierce County, the City of Tacoma, the City of Lakewood, the City of Fife and West Pierce Fire & Rescue.
The City of Puyallup is not a member and maintains its own dispatch and radio system, servicing police departments for Puyallup, Bonney Lake and Sumner.
A search committee representing managers, administrators and elected leaders from member jurisdictions is managing the selection of the director. That panel, working with a recruiting firm, narrowed a field of 32 applicants to the three finalists.
The search committee will recommend a director to the combined operations board of police, fire and dispatch leaders, which will vote Friday.
On Dec. 19, the policy board for South Sound 911 is expected to take action on confirming the combined operations board’s choice. The policy board, made up of nine elected officials representing agencies, cities and towns, will meet at 9 a.m. in Lakewood City Hall.
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