September 25, 1998
Merger of city, county 911 systems questioned
By Malinda Ruble
Staff Writer
The Seneca County Commissioners will seek an attorney general's opinion regarding the legality of the county's 9-1-1 system.
Sheriff H. Weldin Neff brought a new law to the attention of the county commissioners earlier this week. The law makes the merging of 9-1-1 with a countywide public safety communication system illegal.
Thursday the commissioners discussed the issue with Neff, Tiffin Fire Chief William Ennis, Seneca County Public Safety Director Dan Stahl and Tiffin Police Chief Tom Steyer.
''This says it's illegal to mesh the 9-1-1 with the public safety radio system, but this was probably written by an intern who has never seen the inside of a dispatcher's system,'' Neff said.
''But we don't have a countywide public safety communications system,'' Stahl responded.
''The law says we can establish a countywide public safety communications system, but we did establish 9-1-1 and not a countywide public safety communications system,'' Commissioner Janet Dell added.
County Administrator Bob Anderson said Prosecutor Paul Kutscher contacted the person who wrote the new law.
''Mr. Kutscher felt since the county commissioners have not passed a resolution establishing a system, we do not have one. What we have is a dispatch system,'' Anderson said. ''It didn't seem we were meshing the 9-1-1 with a communications system. We don't even have a communications system.''
However, Dell suggested another legal opinion be requested.
''If you still maintain this is illegal, then we need to ask for an attorney general's opinion,'' Dell said.
Neff also questioned the location of the upgraded 9-1-1 system at the Tiffin Police Department.
Tiffin and the county have worked together to install an upgraded 9-1-1 system. That system is to replace the existing equipment installed in May 1989. The upgrade was needed because some of parts no longer were available for the system.
''Now the sheriff's office and the Tiffin Police Department will be Public Safety Answering Points,'' Stahl said.
''The major thing I'm concerned about is the floodplain. The 100-year flood is probably due,'' Neff said.
However, Stahl said, the Tiffin Municipal Building is not in the 100-year floodplain.
Ennis explained the Tiffin site was chosen for security and because the equipment will be better protected from tornadoes and fires.
''I think the chance of getting a 100-year flood is much greater than a tornado,'' Neff said.
After viewing the site, Neff still wasn't satisfied with the location.
''I would oppose the location as a member of the (technical advisory) committee.''
However, Neff said he did not attend any of the committee meetings when the project was discussed.
The new system is expected to be in operation Nov. 3.