Council Bluffs 911 Deal

[NeFire242]

Published Tuesday January 23, 2007
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2318146

Bluffs council offers 10-year 911 deal

BY TOM SHAW
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER


COUNCIL BLUFFS - The Bluffs City Council tried Monday to breathe some life into negotiations over the future of emergency communications in Pottawattamie County.

The council voted to offer to continue paying for 911 operations for 10 years. The city eventually wants the County Board to assume all payments and issue one countywide tax to fund the 911 system.

Since city residents are taxed by both the city and the county, Council Bluffs residents now end up paying for 911 operations twice.

The city currently pays for a little more than half the $1.2 million annual cost of 911 operations.

The county earlier this month proposed that the city continue paying for five years but didn't rule out seeking payments from the city beyond that time.

Under the city's proposal, the city would pay a total of about $1.7 million over the first five years and then $500,000 total for the next five years.

The County Board will consider the city's offer at its Wednesday meeting.

In an interview Monday night, County Board Chairman Lynn Leaders said he was encouraged by the offer. "I think it sounds really good."

An agreement on how to fund operations would be a first step toward figuring out how much money to spend on an upgrade of the county's 911 system.

A consultant has recommended spending $24.5 million on a new 911 center, transmission towers and radios. But some city leaders believe that a new center is unnecessary and would cost too much.

 

[NeFire242]

911 Vote on Monday

Bluffs' 911 plan pleases county; vote Monday
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2319341&u_rnd=7571089

BY TOM SHAW
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

COUNCIL BLUFFS - Pottawattamie County Board members liked what they saw Wednesday when they went over Council Bluffs' proposal for funding future 911 operations.

But the board held off voting on whether to accept the proposal until Monday.

The city has offered to pay about $1.7 million total over five years, then $500,000 total the next five years. After that, the county would fund all operations using a countywide tax.

The only sticking point seemed to be that the city wants to deduct expenses from the amount it would pay the county if the city needs to buy new law enforcement software to stay compatible with the county's 911 computer system.

County Board Chairman Lynn Leaders said he wanted to discuss that issue with the county's technology staff to estimate how much future software upgrades could cost.

The size of a proposed new 911 center for the county has been reduced from 18,430 to 16,900 square feet. Board member Loren Knauss said the change will save money, but how much has not been determined.

Council Bluffs leaders have objected to including a new 911 center as part of a $24.5 million project to upgrade the county's 911 system.

 

[obijohn]

Council Bluffs leaders have objected to including a new 911 center as part of a $24.5 million project to upgrade the county's 911 system.

This is where it seems that Nebraska has an advantage with the 911 telephone surcharge.

Every County I have watched uses the "911 tax" to fund their dispatch centers. The actual operating costs of the 911 telco infrastructure is fairly cheap. But all this cash keeps rolling in every month.

The PSC was generous in allowing what the money could be used to fund.