MOUNT VERNON — In 1993, when the Knox County 9-1-1 system was established, the officials drawing up the plan probably could not have imagined the Knox County of 2008. Development and population growth, as well as sweeping advances in technology, have led to major changes in the way 9-1-1 connects those in need of help with the first responders who can assist them.
The future direction of the Enhanced 9-1-1 system is under discussion across the county. Many in the emergency field believe the county’s original 15-year-old 9-1-1 plan has become outdated and is in need of adjustment.
“I think opening the plan will make changes and updates from the plan 15 years ago,” said Fredericktown EMS Chief Rick Lanuzza, who is a member of the E-911 Board. “They did the best they could with the budget they had at the time, but we need to update the plan.”
The E-911 Board recently sent a resolution to the Knox County Commissioners requesting that the Knox County E-911 Planning Committee be reconvened. Reconvening the committee would require approval by the commissioners, public hearings, and a 60 percent legislative approval in the county from city and village councils, and township trustees.
The planning committee would be made up of the president of the county commissioners, the mayor of the county’s most populous city (Mount Vernon), and either the chief executive officer of the second-most populous municipal corporation in the county or a member of the Board of Township Trustees of the most populous township in the county, as selected by the majority vote of the Board of Trustees.
The planning committee would be advised by a technical advising committee of 15 people, with expertise in different fields related to 9-1-1. Changes or adjustments could be made to the plan, and any obsolete items could be removed.
Shawn Christy is fire chief for the Mount Vernon Fire Department and an E 9-1-1 Board member. Christy said the next step in the process will be for members of the board to meet with the county commissioners.
“The 9-1-1 Board plans to meet with the commissioners during one of their regular meetings to explain the reasons we would like to see it reconvened,” Christy said. “We’re currently operating on a doctrine that was written in 1993, and we believe that the document needs updated on a regular basis.
“As technology changes we need to have a process that allows for the review of that policy. I believe that all policies and procedures need to have a system of constant review of that body of work.”
The update and purchase of new handheld radios for firefighters in the county became a hot-button issue when the resolution was put before the commissioners several weeks ago. Commissioner Allen Stockberger said the commissioners were being cautious about approving the resolution, because they wanted to ensure the planning committee was not reconvened simply to purchase new radios. Stockberger said a system of checks and balances regarding 9-1-1 spending served a good purpose.
“Our understanding was that it was about radios,” Stockberger said on Thursday.
Local fire chiefs and members of the E 9-1-1 Board say the changes needed go far beyond radios.
“This is not about buying new radios,” said Knox County Sheriff David Barber. “The whole plan needs to be reassessed. The 9-1-1 Board unanimously wants the plan reopened in the interest of public safety.”
Stockberger said the commissioners will meet with representatives from the Knox County Fire Chiefs Association and the E 9-1-1 very soon. The commissioners asked Clerk Rochelle Shackle to invite board members to a future commissioners meeting.
“We’re open to meet and have an open dialogue regarding their concerns about the current plan,” Commissioner Bob Wise said.
At this point the resolution to reconvene the board has not yet been approved by the commissioners, pending their meeting with the emergency representatives, but Stockberger said the commissioners are moving in the direction of reopening the plan.
The other avenue available in making amendments to the E 9-1-1 plan is to create an addendum, which must be approved by a majority of the planning committee. The commissioners said they do not favor this plan.
They would like to use the more comprehensive way to update and change the plan, which involves the approval of legislative bodies throughout the county as well as public hearings.
“The direction we want to go in is to have the most input, everybody ought to step up,” said Wise.
“We’d like more grassroots involvement,” said Stockberger.
Stockberger and Wise said that if members of the E 9-1-1 Board and the Knox County Fire Chiefs Association agree that the plan needs changes, they will support the reconvening of the planning committee.
“I have complete confidence that once the county commissioners are aware of all of the inaccurate data that is in the current 9-1-1 plan, they will be in favor of voting to reconvene the planning committee to address these items that have become outdated,” said Christy.
