Morton to Dispatch Deer Creek Fire Calls – Village of Morton to be Paid $50 Monthly for Dispatch Service
Peoria Journal Star
By Mary Vecco
October 10, 1991
Page A3
MORTON – Fire and rescue calls for the Deer Creek Fire Department Rescue Squad now will be dispatched through the Morton Police Department.
As part of an agreement approved by Village Board members on Monday, Deer Creek Fire and Rescue will pay the village of Morton $50 per month for the dispatch service.
Village Clerk Harriett Anderson said the Deer Creek department also will pay any additional costs that may be incurred by the village as a result of providing the service.
However, Trustee Don Bigger, who also serves as police and fire commissioner, said Morton could handle dispatching the Deer Creek calls without any additional hires or costs.
According to Bigger, the monthly fee to the village should cover such costs as increased liability insurance or installation of additional phone lines if necessary.
Anderson said the Deer Creek department handled about 50 fire and rescue calls in 1990. Deer Creek Rescue Chief Jim Landrith predicted that number would be slightly higher this year.
All 911 calls made to Deer Creek Fire and Rescue will be routed through the Tazewell Communications Center in Pekin to Morton dispatchers, who, in turn, will set off the tones for the department.
Tremont Rescue 702 also is considering entering a similar agreement with the village.
In other business, the board: *Accepted the resignation of Ernest Batson as village treasurer. Batson, who resigned because of illness, was replaced by Mark Thompson. Thompson was the assistant treasurer several years ago.
Village business manager Bill Collingwood has been handling the treasurer’s reports at board meetings and probably will continue to do so, according to Anderson.