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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.
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.