by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Emergency 9-1-1 operators will continue to answer calls for help from throughout Hamilton County following agreements signed Monday between County Commissioners and officials of seven communities in the northern part of the county.

Emergency services in Cicero, Arcadia, Atlanta, Sheridan, and White River, Jackson and Wayne townships have been dispatched through the county 9-1-1 center for years, but the communities have not had to pay for the service. Negotiations have been ongoing for nearly two years trying to reach agreement on the rural communities paying for their share of 9-1-1 communications.

The cost of the service has been increasing as the county grows, and county officials said it is only fair that all entities pay their share. Until now Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers and Westfield along with the county government have been paying costs of operation.

Financially, the good news for the northern entities is that they will only pay 10 percent of their calculated obligation this year. This percentage is expected to increase next year and the following year to more accurately reflect their share of expenses.