Scott County commissioners ready to take 'preliminary' steps in consolidating 911 service

BENTON, Mo. -- Consolidation of 911 centers in Scott County is the key to keeping 911 viable, according to Scott County officials.

Tom Beardslee, 911 director for Scott County, Commissioner Donnie Kiefer and Joel Evans, emergency management director for the county, met with officials from Scott City, Chaffee and the North Scott County Ambulance District following the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday.

"The state is going to require us sooner or later to consolidate 911 centers," Kiefer said. "We're trying to take preliminary steps toward consolidating."

"We'd like to specialize in 911 call answering," Beardslee said. Whether the county could also offer dispatching services is still up for discussion.

Scott County commissioners have for some time proposed that adjacent counties and cities within those counties with 911 centers pool their declining 911 surcharge revenues for a regional 911 center.

Missouri is the only state that does not have a 911 surcharge for wireless phones. As more and more people discontinue landline service, which provides the only revenue stream for 911 through its 911 surcharge, Scott County officials have seen a significant drop in 911 revenue while costs to maintain and upgrade 911 equipment are increasing.

Senate Bill 119, if approved by the state legislature, would establish a surcharge on wireless phone service but only provide funding to consolidated 911 centers, according to Beardslee.

He noted that at one time, Scott County had five 911 centers: the county's at Benton and city 911 centers at Sikeston, Miner, Chaffee and Scott City.

The Miner and Chaffee 911 centers have already consolidated with the county's.

"Personally, from a management point of view, I'm in favor of consolidation," said Ron Eskew, city administrator for Scott City.

Eskew said the Scott City Council may be concerned about the loss of revenue from the 911 surcharge which brings the city $17,000 to $19,000 per year. "That just helps compensate for one of our dispatchers," he said.

The loss of 911 revenue is also likely to be a significant issue for Sikeston.

Beardslee said it is possible state officials would allow Sikeston to retain its own 911 center without penalizing the county for not being consolidated as Sikeston has a significant population within its city limits and is located within two counties.

As for Scott City, however, "I don't know if the state will allow us to have two (911 centers) in the county," he said.

Beardslee said he will attend Scott City's regular council meeting Aug. 17 to present that city's council members with information on the pending Senate bill and the benefits of 911 consolidation.

Pertinent address:

131 S. Winchester St., Benton, Mo.