The Paducah City Commission is moving forward with plans to establish its own E-911 service instead of partnering with the Kentucky State Police. The move comes as the city is in need of updating its equipment.
The City determined the KSP proposal would not increase efficiency or decrease costs. Now the question is whether the County will partner with the KSP, ending a previous interlocal agreement and joint dispatch center, or partner with the City.
The city introduced an ordinance earlier this month to split the cost with the county of hiring a consultant to upgrade the Paducah-McCracken County Emergency Communications Center’s technology.
The County plans to notify the City of its decision by March 1. City officials say they will start establishing a City 911 department if the County misses its deadline. The City is prepared to fund 100 percent of the contract with Federal Engineering, Inc. for the consulting services to plan, design and assist in the implementation of a new radio, telephony and computer-aided dispatch system at the local E-911 center. The total amount for the consulting fee with Federal Engineering is $252,172.
