SCOTT, NEW MADRID NEAR 911 AGREEMENT

BENTON -- The countdown to establish an Enhanced 911 System in Scott and New Madrid counties will begin July 1.

Both county commissions are expected to sign the order this week authorizing the Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. to start collecting the 15 percent surcharge on basic phone bills to establish the system.

State law requires the enhanced system to be operating within 27 months after the surcharge starts. With the July 1 starting date, the system must be in place by Oct. 1, 1997.

Scott County Presiding Commissioner Bob Kielhofner expects the commission to sign the order Tuesday.

The New Madrid Commission will probably sign the order Monday during its regular meeting. New Madrid County will also have to notify the General Telephone Co. because it serves an area around Parma.

In Scott County the surcharge will apply to all phone bills except in Scott City and Kelso. Those towns will continue with the enhanced system that Scott City has operated since November 1993.

Scott County residents, except for those in Sikeston, will see a $1.13 per month increase in their phone bills with the 15 percent surcharge.

Sikeston residents will pay $1.37 per month on their phone bills for the enhanced system. They already pay 18 cents per month for a Basic 911 system.

Business phone customers throughout the county will pay more because their basic phone bills are higher.

The telephone surcharge will generate slightly more than $1 million during the first two years in both counties. That is expected to be enough for most of the capital expenses, including equipment and building, to establish the system.

Lewis Recker, New Madrid County's assistant prosecuting attorney who has been working on a proposed agreement between the two counties, said the bylaws are completed for the joint operation of a system. He expects to have those bylaws incorporated into an overall agreement for the commissions to sign Thursday.

"I think we're moving forward," Recker said. "This agreement will benefit both counties."

He said both commissions wanted to give the telephone companies sufficient time to gear up for the collection even though only 30 days is required.

The bylaws say both county commissions will appoint four representatives to a New Madrid-Scott Enhanced 911 Board. Two of the representatives from each county will serve for one year and the other two members will serve for two years. The commissions will make reappointments to the board as terms expire.

The board will also include a commissioner from one of the counties for a term of one year. This appointment will alternate between the two counties with New Madrid having the selection for the first year. Associate Commissioner Robert Hedgepeth of New Madrid has been selected for that position.

The bylaws, which clarify the board's duties, may be amended by the 911 board with the approval of both county commissions.

Recker expects the agreement between the counties to be relatively simple. He's seen a good working relationship between the two commissions during the discussions to finalize the agreement.

"Both counties will have the coverage that they need and will be able to get the best equipment," Kielhofner said. "It's a win-win situation for residents of both counties, especially those living in the rural areas."

In proceeding with the agreement, the Scott County Commission has ignored a clause in a contract that gives Scott City 20 percent of the representation on an Enhanced 911 Board of the two counties. Commissioners said Scott City should not be on the joint board because the city has decided not to be part of the two-county system.

Scott City officials have invited Scott County commissioners to attend Monday night's council meeting to discuss their differences. Scott City officials have previously discussed whether it would be necessary to sue the county to enforce the representation clause, but they have not announced their intentions.