Angie Murphy and the dispatchers she oversees in the Allen County Emergency Response Center want to be sure that if the occasion ever arises, young 911 callers know what to do.
For the third year they will visit kindergarten through third-grade classrooms in all Allen County schools to give programs on emergency telephone calls. This time they will have the advantage of a 911 TeleTrainer, with which mock emergency calls can be staged.
Allen County commissioners approved Tuesday morning purchase of the equipment at a cost of $929. Money will come from 911 reserves, accumulated through a 75-cent-a-month surcharge on telephone bills paid by Allen Countians.
“We’ll do role-playing in the classroom with the kids to make sure they know their home addresses,” important for them to recite without hesitation in an emergency, Murphy said.
Also, the young students will learn that 911 dispatchers may call back if the caller hangs up or they need more information.
“The first question young callers are asked is if their mom and dad are OK,” Murphy noted.
“If they tell us there’s a fire, we tell them immediately to drop the line and run — and that’s what we mean,” she said. The dispatchers will further explain the serious nature of calling 911 and that it isn’t a game.
COMMISSIONERS told Carl Slaugh, Iola administrator, they wouldn’t make an exception for owners of a home in Iola who neglected to apply for property tax abatement through the neighborhood revitalization program.
Dick Works, a commissioner, said he didn’t understand why the party involved didn’t fill out an application, particularly when each person applying for a building permit now is made aware of the program and “it’s been in the newspaper so many times.”
Slaugh accepted their answer and said he would recommend to city council members when they meet Oct. 11 to take one of three approaches: grant a full exception on the city’s part, grant an exception for the time remaining if abatement had been triggered, or do nothing.
Iola’s program expires next year. Within it new construction can lead to 100 percent refund of property taxes for six years, less 5 percent withheld by the county for administrative costs. The refund then declines by 20 percent a year to zero after 10 years.
Taxes involved are those levied by the county, Allen County Community College and whichever city and school district is involved.
COMMISSIONERS approved a new contract with Schlotterbeck and Burns, Chanute, for annual audit of county financial records. Rodney Burns sought and received an increase over this year of $300 to $14,500. Burns also helps the county construct annual budgets at a cost of $1,200.
If rain or cold dictates, the courthouse will be opened on Oct. 15 during Farm-City Days festivities for sign-up of veterans to show support for a Veteran Administration facility in Iola. Also, the bandstand on the northwest corner of the courthouse lawn will be reserved on May 5 and 10 for Allen County Community College music events.
