State ECB Votes Against New Pickett 911 District

The Tennessee Emergency Communication Board voted Wednesday to deny Pickett County of creating it’s own E-911 district.

According to ECB Executive Director Curtis Sutton, comments and data received indicated a new district would not be in the best interest of Pickett County residents.

“The staff has not received any additional information or plans from Pickett County in response to the board’s questions at the special meeting,” Sutton said, referring to the first meeting in Nashville on the issue on June 15. “Our recommendation is simply that the staff does not have sufficient information to make a recommendation that creating a new district is in the best interest of the public.”

Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel pleaded his case to the board before they made their decision.

“We’re not asking to create a new district, we’re just asking to be treated like every other person in this state,” Daniel said. “Once it’s on a referendum, if it passes, great. Then you come back with your operating budget, you come back with your plan… we’re just asking for a referendum. We’re not asking to create a new district here.”

Sutton said the county didn’t have any plan in place if they were to create their own district separate from the current Overton-Pickett E-911 District.

“The board had paid the Overton County Emergency Communications District a sum of money to consolidate when it did,” Sutton said. “The funds that had been used to calculate the base amount for Overton-Pickett… cannot be diverted to Pickett County. Those funds would have to come from somewhere. Those funds would come from all citizens in the state of Tennessee.”

Board Member Mike Hooks saw no reason for a referendum, adding a new district would effect every other district within the state.

“I have had time to study this, ponder this, look at this, talk to other directors in my area of East Tennessee,” Hooks said. “I don’t see a business plan. I do see that this is going to effect every district in the state of Tennessee.”

The board voted 8-1 to deny putting the issue up to a referendum, with Board Member Greg Cothron being the lone vote against.