Scott County 911 Emergency Services Board forms after passage of sales tax

BENTON, Mo. — Following last month’s approval by voters of a sales tax to help fund dispatch centers, a newly formed Scott County emergency 911 board has begun work to develop itself and be recognized as a government entity.

“Nine-one-one centers have struggled for the last several years because of the landline tax dissipating, and this sales tax revenue will help improve our service by being able to have higher-trained dispatchers and better technology,” said Larry Chasteen, who has worked as emergency medical technician-paramedic and administrator of North Scott County Ambulance District since 1994. “It’s a win-win for everybody.”

During the Aug. 2 primary election, voters in Scott County approved (3,056 to 2,591 votes) a county sales tax of one-half of 1% to fund existing operational costs with plans of improving and preparing for future technology upgrades of the existing dispatch centers to keep them operational.

“What we’re trying to do with the sales tax is assist with funding for 911 public safety answering points, or PSAPs,” Chasteen said.

In Scott County, Chasteen said there are currently three PSAPs: Scott City, Scott County and Sikeston; and two alternate dispatch agencies, Miner and Chaffee, which the funds could also assist. Services provided include dispatching of police, fire, ambulance and emergency services.

With the approval of the sales tax, the current landline telephone tax of 15% will be terminated after 90 days of the implementation of the sales tax, which is estimated to take effect Jan. 1, 2023, according to Chasteen.

Also with the approval of the sales tax, the formation of the Scott County 911 Emergency Services Board was required.

“The Board is responsible for setting itself up as a government agency and dispersing the funds; however, it needs to be done to keep growing and improving the 911,” Chasteen said.

The initial board board members were recently appointed by the Scott County Commission with staggered elections starting in two years, Chasteen said.

Chasteen said he is the board member at-large, representing the whole county as the Board president.

In addition to Chasteen, the newly formed board consists of the following members: Vice President Jerence Dial with Scott County Rural Fire Department and Sikeston Department of Public Safety; District 1 (southern region) board members: Sikeston DPS Chief James McMillen and Brian Menz, a certified public accountant in Sikeston; District 2 (northern region) board members: district 2: Scott County Sheriff Wes Drury; Scott City Fire Chief Shawn Jackson; and Chaffee Police Chief Billy Sullivan.

“We’re currently working to develop the bylaws, get registered with state so we can get an employee ID number through the IRS,” Chasteen said “And not that we have any employees, but we did that so we could operate as a government entity.”

The Board meets monthly, and those meetings are currently scheduled for noon on the last Friday of the month.

“The intention of this sales tax and Board is to improve our dispatching system where when someone calls 911, they can get medical direction and assistance they can’t get right now through the 911 system,” Chasteen said. “There will be more enhanced arrival due to better software and computer systems that will assist with fire, police or medical emergencies. This will all help with higher-trained dispatchers and getting first responders to the scene as quickly as possible.”