911 dispatch center faces uncertain funding

Western Missouri 911 Center recorder that archives all radio calls at the center. Submitted photo

Nevada Daily Mail

The failure of the one-half cent sales tax to fund the Western Missouri 9-1-1 Dispatch Center has put plans to hire dispatchers to fill vacancies on hold.

Dispatch Center director Tonia Davis told the Western Missouri 9-1-1- Dispatch Center board during its monthly meeting Wednesday that she has sent letters to the applicants for the dispatch vacancies telling them that due to funding uncertainties the dispatch center would not be able to complete the hiring process at this time.

Davis also told the board that Kael Zoglman told her that the Bronaugh Fire Department is planning to install a repeater on the water tower in Moundville to improve communications. She said that although the fire department has its own radio tech and equipment, there will likely be some cost for the dispatch center to make changes so they can use the repeater and she would tell Zogleman that the dispatch center does not have the money to pay for any necessary changes.

Davis told the board the center's recorder, which records all incoming and outgoing radio calls is no longer supported by the manufacturer and it would cost about $25,000 to replace it and they do not have a backup recorder in case this recorder has problems.

"911 calls are required to be recorded by law," Sheriff Jason Mosher told the board.