Town council approves 911 Dispatch for emergency calls

By Jamie Rieger
Bow Island fire chief, Kelly Byam is pleased with a decision made by council at their May 9 meeting to contract 911 Dispatch to handle all emergency calls from residents in the community.
“What happens now is sometimes a call will get dropped along the way and doesn’t get through to us,” said Byam, adding he was pleased with council’s decision.
In a written request to council, Byam noted that when dispatch forwards fire calls to their radios, it is difficult to get the necessary information.
Now, 911 Dispatch will obtain that information and pass it on to the fire department. It also allows them to dispatch other agencies such as power and gas utilities, which has not been available.
The cost of the service, based on population would be $3,543.75 for 2016 and would be expensed in the Town’s operating budget.