Could be consolidated by October 2010
Read more: Local, Crime, Lee County, Dispatch Center, Jail, Keokuk, Ft. Madison, Sheriff's Department
(Lee Co., Ia.) A consolidated emergency 911 dispatch center in Lee County could be open by October 2010.
There are currently three dispatch centers in the county.
One in Keokuk, Fort Madison and one in the sheriff's department.
The consolidated dispatch center was discussed at the Lee County board of supervisor's meeting Tuesday, November 24th.
We talked with Sheriff Buck Jones to find out more about the center for this KHQA Fact Finder Report.
The board of supervisors will use the same architect and engineer that is working on the Lee County jail project for the dispatch center.
The new dispatch center will be located in the jail.
It will cost about $80,000 to complete that construction and about $500,000 for new equipment.
"We know how we're going to do it and what we're going to have for equipment. Right now we're in the process of attempting to obtain funding for this," said Sheriff Jones.
We asked Jones how this center will benefit the county.
"I think it's for the safety of the citizens of Lee County. Currently we have 3 dispatch centers. One in Ft. Madison Police Department, one in Keokuk Police Department and one here at the Sheriff's office. Our dispatch right now answers administrative lines, so they're not paying 100% attention to the E-911 calls that come in. Keokuk and Ft. Madisson are the same way," said Sheriff Jones.
Sheriff Buck Jones also gave us an update on the Lee County Jail project.
Phase one has been completed.
That included jail cells which have been in use since the middle of October.
