By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.—At a lengthy and busy meeting Monday evening, the Henry County 911 board revised its interlocal agreement with the city of Paris to reflect that the city of Paris Police Department dispatch is now serving as the county’s central dispatch system.
Paris Police Chief Chuck Elizondo explained after the meeting that at a session between city and county officials it was decided “this was the simplest way to handle it” and that the Paris PD is now handling all 911 calls.
Elizondo said it is being handled on a trial basis, which will be revisited in 2020.
The 911 board had been working toward moving a central dispatch to the 911 building on Brewer Street, but Elizondo said, “We just decided to keep it simple.”
“The city has more staff—we have nine dispatch staff and they are highly trained,” Elizondo said. “We have everything we need at City Hall and we felt we didn’t really need to move to another location.” The sheriff’s office has a dispatch staff of four.
“We’re doing this on a trial basis to see if we can do it best this way and if we can, we’ll continue,” Elizondo said. “Our staff is highly trained and have a lot of expertise and we’re efficient. We’ve been doing it a long time.”
In other business:
–The board voted unanimously to not support a resolution from the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board which seeks to restore 911 surcharge rates to $1.50 per line.
Board Chairman John Etheridge noted that the Henry Co. 911 system has been lucky “because we’ve never raised rates here. We’ve managed our money well. We’re in good shape, but not all systems in the state are in this situation. I don’t think we need to raise rates for the sake of raising rates, but there is momentum statewide for this.”
911 Director Mark Archer—who sits on the state board—agreed, saying, “I don’t think this is the time for it, but I believe we’re going to be in the minority.”
After much discussion, Board Member Richie Chilcutt moved that that local board not endorse the resolution. Chilcutt said, “We need to be a steward of the taxpayers’ money and I would say no.” In seconding the motion, Norma Gerrell said, “I want to be a good neighbor, but I also want to take care of our own.”
–Archer said the 911 program will begin publicizing that the “Text to 911” system is here in radio ads and in newspapers. The problem with texting to 911, however, is that the texts often do not arrive at 911. “This was put out there for the hearing impaired, but the technology is just not where it needs to be,” Archer said.
–IT Director Chad Howard demonstrated the 911’s new website and online GIS map project.
Photo: Chad Howard demonstrates the new 911 website for board members. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
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