OPINIONS VOICED ON SCOTT CITY'S 911 BALLOT ISSUE

SCOTT CITY -- About 40 people attended a Tuesday meeting here to learn about the proposed installation of an Enhanced 911 system in Scott City, and those in attendance did not hesitate to express their opinions.

"You've got to weigh your priorities," said Susan Palisch, a Scott City mother of three who urged other citizens to support installation of 911.

Palisch told the gathering of residents and city officials that she would more readily pay for 911 than other telephone features, such as call waiting.

"To me, the safety of my children is more important than whether or not I miss a call," she said.

Voters in Scott City and Commerce will decide Nov. 5 whether to fund installation of an Enhanced 911 system. If approved, residents would be assessed 15 percent of their basic telephone bill or $1.14 at the current rate for two years to pay for set-up of the service, telephone company officials said.

After two years, when the set-up of the system is complete, the fee could be lowered, officials said.

According to Donna Burk, area manager of customer relations for Southwestern Bell, the average monthly charge for basic telephone services in Scott City is $7.55. The 15 percent surcharge for 911 is derived using only the basic charge, which does not include fees for long-distance or special line features, Burk said.

Businesses in the city would also be assessed 15 percent of their average basic phone bill, or at the current rate, $2.43 per month, Burk said.

Scott City currently has only a seven-digit emergency number.

Palisch said when she asks her children what number to call in an emergency, they answer "911."

"How do you tell a 4-year-old that they're right, but we don't have it at home?" she said.

Palisch said she was disappointed that more parents of young children did not attend the meeting.

Another citizen said he thinks people are "fed up with taxes," and asked officials if the city will assess any fees other than the 15 percent surcharge for the 911 system.

"There will be no additional city costs," said Les Crump, Scott City Fire Chief. "We already have 24-hour dispatchers and we won't have to hire any additional people" when 911 is in operation.

Crump said there were at least three incidents in the past year and a half during which an Enhanced 911 system would have allowed for a much quicker response time to an emergency call.

The Enhanced 911 system automatically displays the caller's phone number and street address to the dispatcher.

Crump said one of the instances occurred when an elderly man suffered a heart attack, called the operator and collapsed before giving an address. Crump said it was two hours before officials could trace the call and help the man.

"Luckily, this man lived," Crump said. "But just think about what it's like to lie there for two hours without help."

Crump urged citizens to vote for 911.

"It's important to me and it's important to the other people in emergency services," he said. "We try to give the best service we can possibly give, and we feel this is the way to do that."

Burk said the set-up time for the Enhanced 911 system would be 16 to 20 months.

The city of Kelso had initially expressed interest in putting 911 on the November ballot, but decided later to hold off on such a vote until the spring, Crump said.

According to a Scott City ordinance passed Monday by the City Council, if residents in Kelso decide to hook on to the system at that time, they would also be assessed a 15 percent surcharge for two years.

Tuesday's meeting was held at the Scott City High School. Crump said he plans to talk to civic clubs and school children about 911 in the coming weeks.