Cape County takes another step in 911 system upgrade

A countywide 911 upgrade that could track the location of emergency cellular phone calls moved a small step closer to reality Thursday.

The Cape Girardeau County 911 Advisory Committee reviewed a second draft from a Minnesota firm hired to put a package proposal together. The committee is still in the process of evaluating the proposal and polishing off the details before submitting the package for bid.

The county is in the beginning stages of upgrading its 911 technology. Eventually, the county will move to "Phase 2" service, which would allow a dispatcher to locate a cell phone call within about 100 feet.

The county figures to spend around $2 million on the upgrade. The county has saved back 911 fees -- which are charged on telephone bills -- with this upgrade in mind.

"The facts are that the system we have now is becoming old and antiquated," Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said. "Probably 40 percent of the calls we get at the sheriff's department come from cell phone users. I used my cell phone to call in an accident on Highway 61 between Cape and Jackson. I dialed 911 and you know who answered? The Missouri Highway Patrol in Poplar Bluff."

The future upgrade would change that.

Geocomm, the Minneapolis firm that is putting the proposal together for about $40,000, has already turned in one recommendation.

The report included an engineering review and needs an assessment of the county's communications and an assessment of existing map data.

The 911 board has already made some minor revisions to the 142-page report and sent those back to the company for further review.

"The changes were all little changes, one on a page here, another on a page there," said David Hitt, director of emergency operations for the county.

Hitt said he will soon update the county commission on the revisions. Perhaps as early as next month, Geocomm will send the upgrade package proposal to various companies for bids. The firm will also review the bids.

The upgrade in service will also include a statistics package; synchronized clocks for each of the county's three dispatch offices; and police records software that will alert fire and police personnel of any emergency or criminal activity that has occurred previously at that residence.

bmiller@semissourian.com

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