Testing nears for Columbiana Co. 911

By D.A. Wilkinson

The program for cell phones is at least a year away.

LISBON — Columbiana County’s enhanced 911 system may be up and running by this summer.

Robert Emmons, director of the project, said Wednesday that the system may go on line for testing starting in April.

The list of phone numbers in the county is better than 99.9 percent correct, with only a few numbers remaining to be checked.

The county’s program will show the location of a call made on a land line, and information on who resides or works at the location.

“It’s looking very positive,” said Emmons.

If the tests go well, a date will be selected for the activation. That may be 90 to 120 days after the testing is complete, Emmons said.

Committees will be formed to help with the startup. One will inform the public about the date and a second one will look at standard operating procedures.

“There are many details that have to be taken care of,” Emmons said.

Under the plan, calls made in specific areas of the county will routed to one of five locations: the county sheriff’s office, and the police departments in Salem, Columbiana, East Palestine and East Liverpool.

Calls made to one location can be rerouted to another answering center. A call made by a person in Salem to the sheriff’s office could be rerouted to the Salem answering center. If Salem’s answering system didn’t function, calls from Salem could be transferred to another location, such as the sheriff’s office.

Emmons said the activation of the enhanced 911 for cell phones is one to two years away. That will require mapping of the entire county to determine the location from which a call was made. That will also include compiling a computer list of cell phone numbers.

The project to implement both of the systems began in 2003.

wilkinson@vindy.com