Anoka County will spend up to $1.1 million in leftover bond proceeds on security fencing, workspace changes and a replacement for a problematic 911 phone system at its new Emergency Communications Center.
The Anoka County Board voted 6-0 on Sept. 22 to authorize the three projects, which were not included in the building’s original plans but are now considered necessary for safety and operational reasons.
Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications will begin a phased rollout of a new system for the city’s 911 center on Tuesday, marking the start of a transition away from technology that has been used for the past 30 years.
The grant was announced during the North Carolina 911 Board meeting on August 28 in Raleigh after being recommended for approval by the board’s Grant Committee.
According to Alexander County E-911 Communications Director Greg Foster, the funding will allow the county to replace four outdated radio consoles at its primary communications center and establish radio console connectivity at its required backup center, located within the Iredell County Emergency Communications Center.
In the wake of a failed levy that would have funded emergency response operations in Columbia County, the Columbia 911 Communications District is considering other ways to respond to financial pressure — and local agencies could be hit with the bill.
Palm Bay City Council members voted Thursday, Sept. 17, to move forward with drafting a contract with the Brevard County sheriff’s office to take over the city’s 911 police dispatch communications.
The vote came after nearly two and half hours of public comment that saw residents and city dispatchers raise vocal opposition to the plan.
“I think we’re rushing this … I’m still uneasy, gentlemen; I’m still not there,” said Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina, moments before casting a no vote on the motion.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Lloyd Moskowitz sat in his Brooklyn dispatch office 25 years ago listening to technicians with a cell service company update him on their repairs to a faulty 911 system over the weekend.
It was after 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. People were beginning to trickle in for shift changes. He listened to the occasional phone ring or distant siren, along with the chatter on his scanner sitting behind him.
