Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Voters OK 9-9-1- Tax On Phone Bills

Voters in Nevada County let their voices be heard loud and clear on the issue of getting a 9-1-1 emergency telephone system.

The decision to incorporate a 9-1-1 system in the county made it one of the top stories of 1999.

Area governmental leaders met Monday, March 15, to discuss the 9-1-1 issue for the county.,

Dwight Williams, with Southwestern Bell Telephone, explained what was involved in getting the system and how it had to be done.

It began with a feasibility study to see how much money would be generated by a 12 percent increase on local phone bills.

GTE customers saw a $1.83 per month increase, while SWB users had their bills go up $1.46. This will generate about $5,500 a month in 9-1-1 revenue, and these funds can only be used for the 9-1-1 system.

Williams said it would cost about $3,000 a month to run the system once its up and operational, with the 9-1-1 equipment to be housed at the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, where it will be operated by trained NCSO dispatchers.

However, unlike the television show "Rescue 9-1-1" these operators will not be allowed to give out medical advice. In cases of medical emergency, they will contact the Nevada County Ambulance Service, with a paramedic telling the caller what to do.

According to Williams, no community in Arkansas has failed to pass a 9-1-1 issue when it's come before a vote of the people. This proved true in Nevada County as well, when residents voted 541-82 for the system.

With the vote approving 9-1-1, the next step, Williams said, is mapping each and every road in the county, and assigning new 9-1-1 addresses, which will also be given to the area post offices.

When a 9-1-1 call comes in to the NCSO, he said, the phone number of the person owning the phone and their address will be displayed on the computer screen.

Additionally, the system will show which fire district the caller is in, as well as the nearest ambulance service.

But, Williams said, once the issue passed, it takes an average of three years before the system is fully operational.

A special election was held May 18, 1999, to let voters decide whether or not 9-1-1 was important to them. The final tally, 541-82, showed it was.

Prior to the election, the Nevada County Quorum Court passed a resolution supporting the 9-1-1 measure, along with setting polling places.

The May date was picked for the election because of Gov. Mike Huckabee's setting June 15 as the date for a special election for a highway bond issue.

Davis Benton, chairman of the Nevada County Election Commission, said elections must be held at least 30 days apart.

This meant the 9-1-1 vote had to be held either in May or July, with the quorum court preferring the earlier date.

Currently, all roads in the county are being given 9-1-1 addresses, and the system should be up and running by 2002.