Stoddard County Commission rejects idea of regional 911 consolidation

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Members of the Stoddard County Commission came out in opposition to joining a proposed regional 911 district at the commission's Monday meeting.

Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said he attended a meeting in Sikeston, Mo., at the request of the Sikeston City Council. He said Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi County representatives were in attendance. Mathis noted that Scott County has three dispatch centers for 911 service and New Madrid and Mississippi County have two each. Stoddard County has one 911 dispatch center.

"I think they need to consolidate their call centers," said Mathis.

Commissioner Frank Sifford said, "That bugs me. They can't even consolidate their own counties and now they want to consolidate with other counties."

The discussion turned to financing 911 service. Sifford said the only funding for 911 service is through a fee on land line telephones. He said that cell phones are "the future" and that funding would continue to decrease as more people opt to do away with their land lines.

"Why our legislators won't do something about it, I don't know," Sifford said.

Mathis said the county should explore its options.

"Some counties have asked for a 1/8 cent sales tax for 911 service, and it has passed," Sifford said.

Mathis said he wasn't advocating a sales tax or a tariff on cell phones.

Mathis said he would ask County 911 Services Administrator Carol Moreland and Stoddard County Ambulance District Manager David Cooper to serve on a committee to look into 911 financing. He said both could provide more information about how much money the land line tariff generates and how much expense is involved in providing 911 service.

"I think they are the most knowledgeable people in the county concerning 911 service," said Commissioner Carol Jarrell.

Jarrell joined Sifford in expressing opposition to regionalization. Jarrell touted the quality of the county's ambulance service.

"I have little interest in forming a regional 911 district." Sifford said. "Our people know the roads and the people in the county better that someone in another county."

Pertinent address:

Bloomfield, MO