by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Representatives of northern Hamilton County communities met with county commissioners Monday to discuss a county request that Adams, Jackson, White River and Wayne townships and the municipalities within them begin paying their shares of 911 emergency communications costs. At present, county government, along with Noblesville, Carmel, Westfield and Fishers are paying the entire cost of the system, which is approaching $5 million per year, according to County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt.

When the countywide system was adopted several years ago, the northern areas had relatively few calls and the larger governmental units agreed to pay the costs. Now, with increasing costs, officials believe all units should contribute based on the number of calls originating in each town and township.

Officials of the northern communities will meet in the near future to consider the county’s desires. Thereafter, a decision will be made on the proportionate distribution of costs with any added charges to be levied in 2019.

The 911 communications center is located at the county sheriff’s department. From there dispatchers receive residents’ calls for police, fire and emergency medical assistance and send the appropriate resources to the scene of the emergency.

The number of police, fire and EMS responses reached 317,471 last year, and has been growing at 20 percent per year. Based on these figures, the amounts of money being requested range from as much as $130,000 from Sheridan to as little as $17,477 for White River Township.