Growth foundation discusses 911 merger

Sheriff Jerry Greene from the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department was the guest of the Austintown Growth Foundation at its April 12 meeting.

He spoke about the 911 merger between Austintown, Boardman and Mahoning County 911 Dispatch. He has begun talking to both Austintown and Boardman about updating their systems, but in the meantime the tax cuts made by the state with no tax dollars available has made it difficult. He finally was able to merge both Austintown and Boardman with the county and by getting a $2.7 million loan to purchase new equipment with 10 years to pay it off at $270,000 per year. The county saves enough money from this merger to make it feasible to repay the loan.

They added two more channels and two towers bringing the total to four towers. No one lost their jobs. The two unions absorbed county dispatchers and all three communities were on board with the merger. It makes for a much better system.

In the future, it is the hope that the outlying districts may choose to merge with the system.

Commissioner, David Ditzler complimented the Sheriff on the great job he is doing.