Staff report
MARIETTA, Okla. — Voters in Love County are set to vote Tuesday on a measure that would upgrade the area’s antiquated 911 emergency system to an enhanced 911 system.
County officials met with residents in Marietta, Okla. last Monday night to discuss the details and costs of the upgrade.
The current system displays emergency callers’ phone numbers and nothing else, leaving dispatchers to rely on callers’ verbal directions to send police and other first responders to the sites of accidents and other emergencies.
Responders say they often spend precious time searching for the emergency.
"Our response time right now — we're looking 25-30 minutes by the time somebody finally finds the residence. This will cut it down to approximately about 10 minutes,” Emergency Management Director Tracey Smithwick told a KXII reporter.
The new system would increase the cost of residential land lines by about $2.50 a month, according to a KXII report.
Smithwick also said cell phone users would be charged an additional $.50 monthly.
