SALEM Officials still have questions on 911 plan

Several council members want more details and answers.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- City council members strongly support a plan to improve Columbiana County's 911 system, but some share the city administration's reservations regarding an aspect of the proposal.
A group of area safety and elected officials planning the improved system has named Salem as one of five answering points, but Salem officials are worried that taking on that task will overtax the city's part-time dispatcher staff and force more hiring.
Planners for the improved 911 system, which will feature a database to aid in pinpointing callers, insist that's not the case.
Some council members said Thursday they want more details.
Council is expected to discuss the matter, and possibly hear from 911 planners, at a meeting at 4 p.m. Monday in city hall.
"We want to make sure we do this right and not incur a lot of costs," said Greg Oesch, R-3rd. "We need to have more specific information."
"There are questions to be answered," said Mary Lou Popa, D-1st. "I think it would take at least another dispatcher" for the city's staff to handle 911 calls, Popa said.
Six part-time dispatchers, who are paid $9.05 an hour, handle dispatching for the city.
"We want to do what's most economically responsible for city residents," Nancy Cope, R-at large, said.
County official to respond
County Commissioner Gary Williams, who's overseeing much of the 911 planning, will attend Monday's council meeting and answer questions.
Agreeing to be answering points are Columbiana, East Palestine, East Liverpool and the sheriff's dispatching center in Center Township, Williams has said.
"They just took the planners' word" regarding there being no added dispatching costs, Cope said when asked to explain why Salem seems to be the only community selected as an answering point that's balking.
If Salem decides against becoming an answering point, 911 calls originating in the city and in Perry Township will go to the sheriff's office and be electronically transferred to Salem dispatch, a process that's expected to take only seconds.