LISBON — The Columbiana County 911 Program Review Committee failed to reach a quorum for last week’s meeting, but those present still had a lengthy conversation regarding the topic raised at every meeting: consolidation into one 911 center.

“The fire chiefs are in,” Highlandtown Fire Chief Jeremiah Cole said.

He made that statement at the last meeting, too, and repeated that the fire chiefs association is in favor of consolidation.

“We need to have a game plan. We need to come together and make it work,” he said.

The county’s 911 system is made up of five Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), with wages and benefits of dispatchers paid by the communities where the PSAPs are located.

The way the county 911 system is set up, the county 911 system pays for the equipment while the communities pay for the labor. The PSAPs include the Sheriff’s Office and the East Liverpool, Salem, East Palestine and Columbiana police departments. For years now, there has been discussion about consolidating into one location, but no action, with how to fund the center a big question.

County Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director and 911 Coordinator Brian Rutledge said “we gotta quit kicking the can down the road,” but also acknowledged a big question about what’s going to happen with property taxes since there’s an effort to eliminate them. He reported meeting with Columbiana’s mayor, city manager and police chief, along with county Commissioner Roy Paparodis, who chairs the 911 committee. Columbiana Police Chief Mark Edwards said the meeting was very productive and he appreciated the time spent.

Paparodis said everybody isn’t for consolidation, but he would like to see the different groups, the mayors, the townships, fire and police come together with a plan in writing to present to commissioners.

“I think everybody in this room wants to consolidate, but you guys are going to have to help me get it done,” he said.

East Liverpool Mayor Bobby Smith, a former firefighter with the city, talked about the city fire department’s call volume and also said response time is the key. He said the city wants to play well with others.

East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick talked about delays in getting people help, saying if the first PSAP answers and there’s no ambulances available, the call goes to the next PSAP and then another one and on and on.

“We’re causing a delay by having so many PSAPs,” he said, adding another problem is departments not being on the same radio frequency so they can’t talk to each other.

East Palestine Village Manager Antonio Diaz-Guy said one of the biggest hurdles to consolidation is the communications side. He said it makes sense to consolidate, but the group needs to be diligent about what’s done.

Paparodis said what would be helpful for commissioners is for the different groups to figure out what works and come to commissioners collectively. He offered to go to the meetings of the different groups, such as mayors, fire, police and township trustees.

When it comes to funding, he said “the county doesn’t have enough money to support everything for everybody.”

In other business, all informational, Rutledge said the township trustees association will need to submit a replacement for Madison Township Trustee Wayne Chamberlain, who’s currently on the 911 Program Review Committee but lost his bid for re-election this month. A new trustee representative will need to be selected to serve on the committee.

Chamberlain was one of the members not present at the meeting, along with Salem Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey and St. Clair Township Trustee Jim Sabatini. Members present included Paparodis, county Sheriff Brian McLaughlin and East Liverpool City Councilman Jeff Kreefer.

Rutledge also said all PSAPs are in compliance with state rules. He said the state is proposing new PSAP rules related to CPR calls, increasing mandatory initial training to 80 hours for dispatchers and requirements regarding quality assurance.

The next tentative meeting for the 911 committee is 1 p.m. Feb. 5 at the county EMA office in Lisbon.

mgreier@mojonews.com