Marshall County Commissioners Conditionally Approve E911 Agreement

Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner
Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Deb Griewank, Kevin Overmyer and Kurt Garner

The Marshall County Commissioners have taken another step toward improving its E911 services.

A contract was reviewed during the Commissioners Monday morning meeting. The agreement is considered the last leg of the work to make upgrades to the service. E911 projects allow the implementation of certain technology to supply the location of emergency callers.

Matt Pitney is with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. He says the latest infrastructure allows the system to function correctly.

“This is the new backbone, basically,” says Pitney. “All the trunk lines and everything that are needed to deliver the 911’s. ”

The system would allow first responders to access your location if you’re in an emergency and calling from a mobile device.

By making the switch, Marshall County will be able to pay their service provider, Centurylink, about $2-thousand less per month. Other expenses incurred under the project are a product of state statute.

Pitney says the Sheriff’s Department is working through Centurylink without a contract at this time.

“Unfortunately, the things that are left, we’re required to pay by state statute,” says Pitney. “I’m not happy about it. Some of the things we’re double paying for.”

Several changes to the agreement were proposed by County Attorney Jim Clevenger.

The Marshall County Commissioners approved President Kevin Overmeyer to sign the contract contingent upon a few changes.