LAWRENCE CO. 911 project held up by confusion in two cities

All other communities have complied, the project manager said.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Lawrence County official says two communities are holding up a countywide 911 addressing project.
New Castle and Ellwood City have not signed off on address changes recommended by the company hired by the county to coordinate the project, said county Commissioner Roger DeCarbo Sr.
L. Robert Kimball and Associates of Ebensburg was hired more than three years ago to complete the project that will enable the county to use an enhanced 911 computer system that immediately displays callers addresses on a computer screen.
But county officials first had to ensure that everyone had a street address -- many had rural route delivery or box numbers -- and that there were no duplicate addresses.
Kimball's project manager Kathy Berkebile informed county commissioners last week that all communities had complied except Ellwood City and New Castle.
"Kimball and the county have made every attempt to acquire acceptance from Ellwood City and the City of New Castle with no success," according to a letter Berkebile sent to the county June 10.
Ellwood City Council President George Celli said he was unaware that his community had not complied with the county's request.
Celli said there were some problems nearly two years ago when Kimball asked for some street name changes because Ellwood City and Ellport borough had identical street names. That problem, however, was solved by putting ELP after the Ellport street names in the 911 computer system, he said.
"It was my understanding that all of the problems were solved," Celli said. He added that he was unaware that city council had to approve anything.
John DiMuccio, New Castle city administrator, said he hasn't received anything from the county either.
"They never came to council. We've been waiting for them to come. We haven't had anything to approve. I've never seen a list," DiMuccio said.
Berkebile could not be reached to comment.
DeCarbo said he believed Ellwood City and New Castle had been given the information, but he intends to send letters to both communities asking them to formally approve the changes.
The commissioner said he has also asked the county solicitor to check if the county would be held responsible for any problems if police or firefighters are dispatched to the wrong address in communities that do not comply with the recommended address changes.