Salem fails to submit data for enhanced 911

It is likely the city already has the information that was supposed to be delivered in July.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Salem hasn't submitted information on its boundaries to the technical advisory committee that is creating enhanced 911 service in Columbiana County.
The committee revealed Tuesday that Salem is the only city in the county that hasn't submitted information.
The villages of Salineville and Summitville, and Franklin and Center townships, are the only other subdivisions that haven't submitted information.
The committee asked fire departments in April to begin to check and submit the information. The committee had originally hoped to get the guide completed and have enhanced 911 service up and running by the end of this year.
A "master street address" guide will determine the exact boundaries that will be used to route calls to one of five answering points in county. Salem is one of those points.
What it means
"Enhanced" 911 means that the caller's location will appear on a screen at the answering points, which are all law enforcement agencies.
Commissioner Gary Williams, who has been spearheading the project for the commissioners, said he didn't know why Salem hadn't submitted the information.
Salem Police Lt. Don Beeson is the city's representative on the committee. He said a letter from the committee had been sent to the city asking for the information. He wasn't sure to whom the letter was sent.
Beeson noted that at the last committee meeting, 911 director Robert Emmons said he would help any subdivisions that hadn't completed their survey.
City Safety Director Scott Cranmer said he would look into the problem. He said the letter may have gone to another official, such as Service Director Joe Julian.
Fire Chief Walt Greenamyer could not be reached.
It is likely that Salem already has the information. Salem's planning and zoning office keeps detailed information on the city's boundaries and notifies both the fire and police departments of any changes.
In return for being an answering point, Salem has had a new dispatcher's office built in city hall.
New cabinets OK'd
In other action, the committee approved new cabinets that will house and cool computers for the system at a cost of 15,000.
But the committee held off action on other spending, such as for computer assisted dispatching, for the sites. When an emergency call is made, CAD would provide information to the dispatcher on any previous calls at that address.
East Palestine already has CAD. But Williams warned that the committee has already spent close to its present limits. More revenue will be created later through fees on land lines.
Other fees are being generated on cell phones. Those fees will finance a program that will show dispatchers the location of calls made from cell phones.
It was Williams' last committee meeting as a commissioner. He was defeated by Daniel T. Bing, who was at the meeting and may replace Williams on the committee.
Williams said he would like to continue helping with the project and may be appointed as a citizen representative to the committee that will meet again in late January.
wilkinson@vindy.com