COUNCIL SUPPORTS E-911 PLAN

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday endorsed a plan to place a county-wide emergency telephone system on the November ballot.

The council approved a resolution in support of a new "Enhanced 911" system that allows emergency agency dispatchers to instantly trace the origin of incoming calls.

David Barklage was the only council member to vote against the endorsement. He said there are too many unanswered questions about the cost of the system and the appropriateness of having multiple dispatching facilities.

The Cape Girardeau County E-911 Committee has studied the 911 proposal since February and last week met with local governmental leaders to recommend the county establish a county-wide system.

Sgt. Carl Kinnison of the Cape Girardeau Police Department and a member of the committee told the council Monday that a county-wide system is expected to cost $950,000 initially, with annual maintenance and operations costs of more than $70,000.

He said the committee has recommended three primary answering points in the county the sheriff's department, Jackson Police Department and Cape Girardeau Police Department and a secondary answering point at the Cape Girardeau County Private Ambulance Service.

But Barklage questioned whether the multiple answering points were necessary. He said the system likely would be less expensive if a single dispatching center was used to serve the entire county.

"We're taking quite a financial burden up front for the county," Barklage said. "It might be a very fine thing... but there are a lot of unanswered questions."

Barklage said the committee's report contained little detailed information on the system and no budget breakdown to show how the money would be spent. He also objected to the limited time the council had to consider the proposal.

"We'd be voting blind," he said. "To be asked on such a short notice to request that this be placed on the ballot is inappropriate. Do we really gain that much out of the investment?"

Kinnison said the enhanced 911 system would increase emergency response time. He said the system allows dispatchers to receive the telephone number and address of the caller within three seconds.

Kinnison said voters will be asked in November to approve a 15-percent hike in their telephone service rates. The assessment, which likely would be lowered after two years, would cost the average household about $1.35 per month, he said.

But during Monday's study session, Barklage asked how much money could be saved if there were a single dispatching center rather than three or four.

City Manager J. Ronald Fischer said the city's existing 911 system, which doesn't permit dispatchers to immediately trace calls, is 18 years old and needs to be replaced anyway. Jackson doesn't have a 911 system.

Fischer assured Barklage that the E-911 Committee could answer any of his questions about the system prior to the Nov. 5 vote.

In other business, the council asked the city staff to study alternative ways to close Arena Drive as a through street. The street bisects Arena Park and council member Mary Wulfers said there are "too many cars, going too fast" through the park.

Council member Al Spradling III said he also thought the city ought to study closure of the street's access to Kingshighway.

In other action, the council approved:

A contract for the appraisal of 15 tracts of property along Walker Branch as part of the Cape LaCroix Creek-Walker Branch flood control project.

First reading of a law authorizing a contract with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for improvements at the intersection of Route K and Mt. Auburn Road.

Authorization of the city's Bicentennial Commission to begin preparations for a bicentennial celebration of the establishment and founding of Cape Girardeau in 1792-1793.

An agreement with the Salvation Army to provide emergency shelter to the homeless. The action will permit the Salvation Army to receive a state grant to expand a shelter it already operates here.

Special use permits for construction of two churches LaCroix United Methodist Church and Christ Presbyterian Church on Lexington Avenue near Abbey Road.