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LISBON --Efforts by the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency leaders along with Commissioner Tim Weigle continue to pursue additional funding for operation of next generation 911 for this and other counties across the state may have begun to pay off.
Brian Rutledge, 911 Coordinator, reported to members at Thursday's meeting of the Columbiana County 911 Emergency Service Committee the state committee looking at concerns for funding ESInet for the state are considering increasing the fees for users of the system. Not only is the state committee considering raising the cost of the fee attached to cell phones from 25 cents to 70 cents, the plan would include adding fees for other smart devices or means of communication such as tablets and land lines.
Members of the county 911 committee had been thinking it needed to be at least $1 and were concerned that 70 cents is not enough. However, they also expressed gratitude for the work of EMA Directory Peggy Clark, Rutledge and Weigle, who have testified in Columbus about the need for additional funding. Prior to that it was scheduled to again be 25 cents.
The increase and change could be included in Ohio House Bill 445, but no one knows how soon that will be presented back to the house from the committee, voted on or signed by the governor.
In recent years, the county 911 has received about $210,400 on most years from the state from the collection of the 25-cent fee. When questioned by the committee, Clark said she could see the 70 cents generating about $600,000 for the county's 911. However, operating a merged countywide 911 Public-Safety Answering Point (PSAP) could cost at least $2.2 million annually.
Some of the next steps toward possible merger of the PSAPs were discussed, including looking at possible properties for building or expanding a current building for about 6,000 square feet of space needed to operate the center. A stand alone building would require about 23,000 square feet.
The committee voted for Weigle, Clark and Rutledge to begin exploring the options, including a possible alley vacation that would be needed for a site being considered and obtaining architect drawings of a floorplan for the center.
Another step that will have to be taken before the PSAP's can merge is a vote by each city, village and township in the county that utilize 911. Weigle said it will require a 65 percent positive vote for it to proceed. Members of the committee discussed that until there is a better idea of how much each community will need to contribute to the merged 911 PSAP, many officials will be leary about passing the needed legislation.
In addition to answering 911 calls, Jenn Swords, head dispatcher with the sheriff's office, said the dispatchers enter missing persons, warrants and protection orders into the system so deputies and officers have up-to-date information available.
In other matters:
-- Members of the 911 committee received an update on the text to 911 system, which is set to launch in a few weeks. The EMA plans to offer information on the proper use of the new technology for county residents to begin utilizing it as soon as it is ready.
-- The nationwide 988 suicide prevention number is scheduled to begin operations on July 16, but at this time it was reported that the state is not giving the county any guidance on how it is to be handled, leaving it up to the county. At this point, the 988 hotline will be handled locally by the organization that handles 211, which is the number people can call for all sorts of assistance. However, Rutledge indicated the 211 staff is having trouble hiring the additional counselors that are anticipated to be needed for 988.
-- The next quarterly meeting of the county 911 committee is scheduled for 1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 4.