Area to have 911 service soon

Ken Johnston
Editorial@RainyRiverRecord.com

It won’t be long and the confusion of what number to call for an emergency in the west end of the district will be gone.

Last Tuesday Rainy River town council joined the ranks of neighbouring Dawson and Lake of the Woods Townships in the final push to get 911 emergency phone services on line. Efforts have been ongoing for the past couple of years and included ensuring all properties in the area were properly numbered so that response to calls could occur efficiently.

Dawson and LoW Clerk Pat Giles said that it will cost every home 35¢ per phone line each month for the service. He is hoping that his two townships will switch over to the 911 service on or about December 12, 2001. If all goes well Rainy River should follow shortly thereafter.

Rainy River council unanimously approved a motion to authorize the Mayor Gord Prost and Clerk Deb Bowman to sign the agreement with Fort Frances dispatch to start the service as soon as possible.

In addition to the monthly charge on the phone bill municipalities will have to buy into the dispatch equipment. According to Mayor Prost the original 911 system was purchased in 1992 and the costs to the new partners here will reflect depreciation.

At present there are separate emergency numbers for fire, police and ambulance. 911 will see all them consolidated and dispatching will occur out of Fort Frances.