911: CAPE COUNTIANS TO DECIDE FATE OF PLAN

JACKSON - Responding to a request of the Cape Girardeau City Council, Jackson Board of Aldermen, and a special study committee, the Cape Girardeau County Commission voted Thursday to place a proposal on the Nov. 5 ballot that would provide funding for a countywide 911 emergency telephone system.

The high-technological emergency system would provide dispatchers with the name and address of any location from which a 911 call is made. That means emergency services could be sent even if the caller were unable to speak.

The city of Cape Girardeau has had 911 service since the early 1970s, but its system needs to be updated. Jackson and out-county areas do not have the emergency phone service.

Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said the study that led to a decision to place the issue on the ballot shows cooperation between all parts of the county in an effort to give people quick emergency-services response.

"We felt the magnitude of this enhanced 911 system is such that we should all cooperate as governments to put this before the people," said Huckstep.

Brian Miller, director of the Cape Girardeau County Emergency Operations Center and chairman of the study committee, said: "I promise you this will be a state-of-the-art system that will serve all parts of the county equally. When all is said and done, you will be proud of what we have done. It is not a gold-plated system, but a good system to meet our needs."

Miller said if voters approve funding for the system, it will be fully functional within two years.

Voters will be asked to approve a 15 percent emergency service fee on their base telephone bill to pay for the system. At the end of two years, the rate would be rolled back to a level that would allow for maintenance and updates in the 911 system.

The recommendation from the study committee to the commission is that it establish an elected board to oversee the system and make decisions on maintenance and any changes in fees that would be needed.

Miller said the 15 percent fee on the basic phone rate for most residents of Cape Girardeau and Jackson would be $1.35 a month. In some parts of the county it would be less, he said.

Jackson Mayor Carlton Meyer and Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Carl Kinnison presented the commission with resolutions by the councils in their cities requesting that the issue be put on the ballot. Both praised the proposal as sound and worthy of serious consideration by voters.

Twelve members of the committee and representatives of the two cities met with the commission Thursday. After the commissioners agreed to put the issue on the ballot, how to get the message to voters was discussed.

Jackson City Administrator Carl Talley stressed the importance of spreading the word to out-county residents because they could gain from the service.

Jackson Alderman Jack Piepenbrok said he expects the issue to do well in Jackson. "We've had a great deal of interest in this from our citizens, and we look forward to a great deal of support," he said.

Huckstep said he is confident the 911 committee will be able to coordinate an informative campaign. He said if the measure passes, the committee would be used to make recommendations on purchasing the right kind of system to meet the needs of everyone in the county.

"Our feeling has been from day one, if we do it, to do it totally and have the best system we can," said Huckstep.