Columbiana Co. taking steps to activate its 911 cellular system

By D.A. WILKINSON

wilkinson@vindy.com

LISBON

The Columbiana County 911 program will be improving its ability to find people in trouble, particularly those who use cellular phones.

The county commissioners have entered into an agreement with the state’s Ohio Geographically Referenced Information Program. Robert Emmons, the director of the county’s 911 program, said this week the move will greatly improve the county’s system.

Commissioner Dan Bing could not be reached about the project’s cost.

Emmons said the county needs the state data to make the cell-phone program work. “It’s the best information today,” he said.

The state’s program has multiple layers of information that can be used to map locations, including information on county roads and real estate.

The county enacted 911 service for land phones in 2008. Emmons said that system is working well.

The county hired Verizon Business Solutions to handle land emergency calls. It hired a company to oversee mapping for the cellular system. There were problems, however.

Earlier this year, the county’s plan had to reorganize part of its 911 mapping because the locations for distress calls made from cell phones were not precise.

Emmons said 911 officials essentially “threw out” the initial information for cellular emergency calls.

Emmons said that now, it’s easy to locate a structure that’s in the emergency system. The initial emergency cellular calls could show an area. The new system will help pinpoint the location of the cell phone.

Emmons said it will take until the end of this year to upgrade the system.