Mapping a 911 future

By Barry Porterfield
Staff Writer

January 25, 2008 10:13 am

— The hope is a public meeting only hours away can offer even more answers for officials right in the middle of an effort to establish a 911 emergency phone system in all of Garvin County.
The meeting scheduled for a 6 p.m. start tonight at Pauls Valley’s city hall, 100 West Paul, is for the nine-member committee established to advise county commissioners on each step needed as work continues to move toward the countywide 911 system at some point in the future.
More specifically, committee members are looking to learn more about the mapping of the county and addressing work — both important elements before the system can become a reality.
“This is an informational meeting,” said committee member David Johnson.
“We’re trying to define the scope of the mapping and addressing. We’re trying to learn more about what we need before we can go out to bids,” he said.
Open to the public, the meeting will give the committee an opportunity to talk with representatives of companies involved in mapping and the establishment of a formal addressing system for an area planning to establish a 911 system, which is currently unavailable in Garvin County with the exception of a local service in Pauls Valley.
Voters decided nearly a year ago a system for the entire county should be established as they passed two funding measures meant to pay for the 911 idea.
Johnson, who has been serving as the committee’s chairman, and new 911 coordinator Diann Williams both indicated this week they expect the public bids for mapping and addressing will be sought sometime in February.
Although no number has been placed on the anticipated costs for addressing, officials have continued to state they believe a price tag of more than $100,000 will go for the 911 mapping of the county.
On average about $22,000 in 911 fees are now being collected monthly throughout the county, officials added.
During a weekly meeting on Tuesday both Johnson and Williams also met with all three county commissioners to discuss the proper procedures needed to acquire job related equipment for the new coordinator.
“Explain it to us, why you need it and we’ll do whatever we can to help you get it,” District 3 Commissioner Johnny Mann said.
At the same time Mann stressed efforts are focused on continuing to “build enough funding to do the mapping.”
An example comes with the possibility of purchasing a lap top computer that Williams can use in the 911 office now located in the county courthouse or the vehicle provided to the her by the commissioners.
Johnson informed the group there is the possibility a private, larger vehicle could soon be donated to the county for use by the coordinator.