News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Tennessee State Emergency Communication Board could change its application process for creating new 911 districts.
Members were frustrated with the process Friday after Pickett County applied to create their own district separate from the current Overton-Pickett E-911 service.
Jennifer Estes is the Chairwoman of the Emergency Communication Board.
“For future reference, I would like to see this board look at the application process,” Estes said. “I’m a little disappointed in the details that have been provided for us to deliberate.”
During Friday’s meeting, neither Pickett or Overton County officials had data on what the potential dissolution would do for both counties.
“I know… they didn’t want to run numbers until they knew if they were going through with this,” Estes said. “I understand that, but to use a car reference, I would need to know before I went into a car dealership or a bank what I could afford and run those numbers.”
ECB Executive Director Curtis Sutton said the board’s primary authority was approving a new district in accordance to Pickett County’s application.
Board Member Mike Hooks questioned the application itself, saying a Overton-Pickett merger in 2002 meant the Pickett agency still existed.
“Wherein you already have a 911 center in place, that has combined two municipalities in the counties,” Hooks said, “You’re not creating [a new district]. It’s already in place.”
The board voted for a public hearing in Pickett County to continue discussing the application. The meeting will allow officials to present data on what the financial impact would be to both Pickett and Overton Counties.
