Voters to decide fate of 911 service

A November levy must pass for the township to maintain its own 911 service.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

LIBERTY — Some township officials want to keep 911 service local, but township and Trumbull County officials are discussing what will happen if the township is forced to join the county system for financial reasons.

Liberty Township spends about $290,000 annually to operate its 911 emergency call service. Township trustees will be placing a 1.25-mill, five-year renewable operations levy to cover 911 emergency call expenses on the November ballot.

The levy will cost a homeowner with a $100,000 home about $45 annually.

The county has asked the township to join its 911 system at a cost of $123,292 to the township. Police Chief Anthony Slifka has repeatedly said he is not interested in joining the county system for 911 operation, but Trustee Gary Litch said the township must make plans in the event the levy is rejected.

“We need a levy to pass for us to continue this service. If it doesn’t pass, who is going to be responsible for continuing this service? It’s great to have if we can afford it, but if the levy doesn’t pass who is going to pick up the cost?” Litch said.

A joint approach

Litch suggested a joint approach where the township 911 center would be staffed with part-time personnel for the majority of the day, then calls routed to the county system overnight. Such a plan would save money and maintain a personal touch with the community, he said.

Slifka said he has many questions for county 911 officials before he would be comfortable entering the county system. One of those questions is why the county is asking the township to pay $123,292 for the service. He said larger communities in the county are being charged a lesser amount.

Michael Dolhancryk, director of Trumbull County 911, said the $123,292 payment is based on what the township paid, on a per call basis, before leaving the county system and operating its own 911 service 10 years ago, plus a 3 percent cost of living increase. He said there has been discussion about basing all cost to all municipalities on population.

Howland Township is the largest contributor to the county system with an annual contribution of about $83,000. Liberty would be asked to pay about $40,000 a year more than Howland.

Department concerns

Slifka said another concern is the need to have someone in the police department at all times for the temporary housing of prisoners.

Trustee Jack Simon expressed concern about the township’s 10-digit police number and those who call that number. He said a lot of residents have become accustomed to calling the department via the 10-digit number.

Dolhancryk said the county could answer calls to the township’s 10-digit police number at no additional costs.

Dolhancryk also reminded trustees that county officials would likely vote not to pay for maintaining aging 911 equipment being used by the township and no longer backed by the manufacturer. Slifka said he believes the county will be required to pay for the equipment as in the past.

Trustees asked several other questions about staffing and call operation, but said they are not ready to make a decision to go with the county system. They said the township’s next move will depend on what voters decide in November.

jgoodwin@vindy.com