Nebraska Public Service Commission 911 Field Coordinator Troy Cordle was at the Jan. 9 Chase County Commissioners meeting to brief the board on changes coming to Nebraska’s 911 system.
    In April of 2016 LB 938 was passed. The 911 Service System Act moves the state towards a next generation 911 system.
    Cordle said the state’s existing system was started in 1964.
    The new system will divide the state up into regions which will split costs and assist with 911 calls. Chase County would fall into the South Central region, which includes Ogallala, North Platte, Kearney and McCook, as well as many Sandhill counties. Each region will be run by a board.
    The bottom line, according to Cordle, is that counties will have back up and will have help with costs.
    He went on to say that it’s only a matter of time before stand alone 911 centers won’t be able to go by themselves.
    The proposed plan has the state split into nine regions. Commissioner Dave Hogsett asked why there aren’t fewer regions. Cordle said some of it is politics. Regional boards can add counties if approached.
    Cordle estimated Chase County’s cost to join the region at $80,000 to $100,000. A portion of that cost will be covered by the county’s E911 fund. Cordle is working to get approval for counties to use 100 percent of their E911 money to cover the cost of joining a region. After the initial costs, the counties will split future expenses.
    Chase County will have one less expense because it already has the VIPER phone system.
    The new system will include training for dispatchers.
To read the full story, subscribe to the e-edition online or call the Breeze at 308-394-5389 to subscribe to the print edition