by Marty Trese, KnoxPages.com editor
MOUNT VERNON – Knox County 9-1-1 Coordinator, Richard Dzik, says the 9-1-1 consolidation project is on schedule for moving to the new 9-1-1 center on June 27, 2014. Work on the project, which was originally projected to cost $377,575 began March 3. All 9-1-1 calls generated in both the city of Mount Vernon and Knox County will be answered in a single location at the Knox County service center on East High Street. Dzik tells KnoxPages.com that the generator has been delivered, all HVAC work is near completion and all electric work is nearly completed. They are currently in the phase where crews are installing new servers, setting up the computer network, erecting a new tower on the roof of the service center and installing new furniture.
The dispatchers are scheduled to move from MVPD to KCSO on June 2, 2014 to facilitate the relocation of computer and radio equipment from that site. Dzik said, “These technical components can get complicated, but I’m confident that my vendors will be able to meet our deadline.”
An open house for the public will be held shortly thereafter, but it hasn’t been scheduled yet, pending any last minute delays.
Just last week, the four largest wireless telephone companies (AT & T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon) voluntarily committed to make texting to 9-1-1 available in areas where the local 9-1-1 center is prepared to receive the texts. When asked by KnoxPages.com Dzik said that text-to-911 in Knox County is probably a couple of years off.
Text-to-9-1-1 is the ability to send a “short message” (SMS) or other kind of text message to 9-1-1. Texting during an emergency could be helpful if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, or if a voice call to 9-1-1 might otherwise be dangerous or impossible. But the Federal Communications Commission says if you are able to make a voice call to 9-1-1, and if it is safe to do so, you should always make a voice call to 9-1-1.
According to the FCC, only two Ohio counties, Hamilton and Geauga have the service as of May 16, 2014.
Dzik says Knox County now has 9-1-1 systems installed that are capable of receiving text messages with a simple software upgrade. Dzik said, “Unfortunately, we are waiting for the state’s 9-1-1 network to catch up. Typically, the state has paid the utilities to maintain the 9-1-1 connections to each 9-1-1 center. Text-to-911 requires that the utility be able to send more complex data than copper phone lines are able to provide. In order for us to receive text-to-911 today the expense of installing a router at the utility company and laying the new lines would fall onto Knox County and it does not seem worth the expense on our shoulders. I would prefer to wait until the state figures out how they are going to install the new 9-1-1 infrastructure and let them pay for it.”
