Enhanced 911 up for third try in Stark County
Thursday, May 15 2008 B3
Officials hoping that lower surcharge will garner voter support
By Gary L. Smith of the Journal Star  state@pjstar.com

TOULON - Stark County officials are nearing completion of a plan that would mark the third attempt to garner voter support for Enhanced 911 service, which has twice been rejected at the polls in the small rural county. 

They're hoping this time will be the charm, partly because the monthly surcharge on each land telephone line is expected to be substantially less than the $2.80 and $2.85 figures that were voted down in past elections.

"We're thinking we can offer it at a cost of $1.50 to $2 a month." County Board Chairman Mike Bigger said at a board meeting Tuesday night.

What would make that possible would be a combination of new technology and the unique business plan developed by GenDesign Public Safety LLC. The Lockport based company is catering to a niche market of small counties where costs have historically hindered development of E-911 service.

GenDesign would develop E-911 service and help get a referendum passed, all at no cost to the county. In return, the company would have a 10-year contract to maintain and support the system with payments generated through fees on both land lines and wireless phones. 

"The idea is, we'll come on board and - for all practical purposes - work for free until the referendum," company President Mike Gende said in an e-mail. "If it passes, we will be able to be paid. We make money over the 'long haul', not a short-term sale."

The tentative contract would call for GenDesign to receive $1 a month for each land line and half of the county's share of a 75-cent monthly fee imposed on cellular phones. The county cannot collect any of the wireless fee unless an E-911 system is in place. 

"As far as I'm concerned, we definitely need someone like (GenDesign) to handle this for us," said board Vice Chairman Ron Musselman.

The contract had been on the agenda for Tuesday's meeting. But because State's Attorney Jim Owens had not yet reviewed final language, board members delayed a vote until the regular June meeting or possibly a special meeting before then. 

"We want to make sure we do it right the first time," Bigger said.

If the contract is approved, the monthly charge would be set after further study of telephone information and would go before voters in November.