CITY OF DOTHAN DEALING WITH EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

The City of Dothan is dealing with two key issues regarding emergency communications. City Commission and Dothan city leaders are looking to appoint a co-ordinator of emergency communications to oversee the E-911 system. Among names suggested for the post are Rickey Stokes, Wayne McKinnon, Rhonda Freeman, Cottonwood Police Chief Jim White, and Dothan`s own top police officer, Chief John Powell. Powell says he would serve as E-911 co-ordinator as a collateral duty, requiring no additional pay except his chief`s salary, and that would be a point in his favor says the Representative from District Two. Commissioner Newsome says Powell should be appointed to the post. Powell says money will be an issue. A necessary capability for first responders will be to determine a location by the phone number, and with a cell phone that takes extra equipment. Government officials say that the money to operate enhanced 911 will have to come from an increase in cell phone rates, and that would have to be decided by the state. Meanwhile, Chief Jim Smith is overseeing E-911 Communications in Dothan. Recently Dothan City Manager Mike West told commissioners that the city is paying out more money than it is taking in...and any increase in cell phone rates would have to be directed by the state.