Liberty chief urges residents to vote for levy for 911 service

If the levy fails, the county’s 911 center would handle
Liberty emergency calls.

By SEAN BARRON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

LIBERTY — If township residents want a 911 service that’s as effective as possible, it’s imperative that they vote for a levy that will be on the Nov. 6 ballot.

That was a key message from Police Chief Anthony Slifka during a public meeting on the levy Monday at the township building.

Slifka urged people to vote for the five-year, 1.25-mill levy, which would bring in roughly $230,000 annually to cover the costs of running the township’s 911 emergency call center.

The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $45 a year.

If the levy is defeated, however, it could mean the closing of the township’s jail, the loss of some audio and video surveillance and fewer mobile data terminals in cruisers, the chief warned. In addition, the county’s 911 center in Howland would likely take over handling the township’s emergency services, Slifka said.

“This is one service you don’t want to lose in this community,” he added.

In a related matter, Slikfa said Liberty’s 911 center has submitted to the Trumbull County 911 Review Board a plan for obtaining funds for equipment upgrades. Among other things, the technology would provide a mapping system to make it easier to pinpoint 911 mobile calls, he noted.

The township has operated its own 911 system since 1997 and spends $290,000 annually to operate it. Most of that money comes through the police department’s budget.