Deer Creek, Tremont May Join Morton 911 – Morton Village Board Gives Approval to Trustee to Seek Dispatch Pacts
Peoria Journal Star
By Mary Vecco
September 18, 1991
Page D6, A8
MORTON _ Morton 911 dispatchers soon will be handling emergency calls for the Deer Creek Fire Department Rescue Squad and possibly for Tremont Rescue 702. Village Board members on Monday gave their approval for trustee Don Bigger to pursue contractual agreements to provide 911 dispatch service to Rescue 702 and Deer Creek Fire and Rescue.
According to Bigger, who also is the police and fire commissioner, Morton could provide the dispatch service to the other two communities at no additional cost to the village.
“We have the personnel to do it without any additional hires,” Bigger said. “They would pay a nominal fee to us to cover any cost increases we might incur, such as liability insurance or installation of additional phone lines if it becomes necessary.”
Bigger said Police Chief Nick Graff and Fire Chief Dick Campbell agree that providing the dispatch service is a good idea, not only for the other two communities involved, but for the village of Morton as well.
“This is an opportunity to provide Morton with extra revenue,” said Bigger.
Deer Creek Rescue Chief Jim Landrith said his department already has decided to use Morton dispatchers and will be meeting with Graff sometime during the next week to discuss services and fees.
“Our emergency calls will still go through Taz-Com,” said Landrith, “but we need someone to set off our tones. Taz- Com will put our 911 calls through to the Morton dispatchers.
Tremont Rescue 702 board president Wayne Hochstettler said his squad is interested in the Morton service but also has been in touch with Taz-Com.
“We haven’t decided which way we’re going to go for sure yet. We have talked with Taz- Com, but they indicated to us that they’re already overloaded at this time and may not be able to take us on,” he said.