VIENNA — Members of the Maries County Commission and the newly formed 911 Emergency Services Board met on Dec. 18 where they discussed operational, financial and staffing issues related to the county’s transition to an independent emergency dispatch system.

Much of the meeting focused on the status of the county’s 911 system and preparations for transferring oversight from the Maries County Sheriff’s Office to the newly established 911 Emergency Services Board, which was created following the Nov. 4 passage of a supporting sales tax.

Commissioners recently appointed members to the new board, which will change again following the April 7, 2026, election. Members from the western side of the county include Allan Pollerisz, representing fire services; Don Lanning, representing ambulance services; and Steve Sinden, an active law enforcement officer and county resident for more than 10 years.

Appointed from the eastern side of the county are Stephen Conrad, a retired ambulance board member serving as a public representative; Keith Kilmer, a retired law enforcement officer serving as a public representative; and Cindy Butler, president of the Ozark Central Ambulance District, representing ambulance services. Bonnie Prigge, who is active with the Vichy Fire Department, was appointed chair of the seven-member board.

Commissioners and board members discussed whether bylaws would be required for the board. It was noted that the board’s structure and authority are governed by state statute rather than locally adopted bylaws. Copies of relevant statutes were distributed to attendees for review.

The board discussed the need to gather baseline information, including staffing levels, dispatcher start dates, pay rates, training certifications and work schedules. Maries County Sheriff Mark Morgan said the county currently employs five full-time dispatchers with no part-time staff. One dispatcher is on duty per shift.

“So Mark, you’re saying there’s only one on 911?” 911 Emergency Services Board Member Allan Pollerisz asked. “Does that mean that you got your jailer doing stuff also then, or deputies and people stepping in?”

“Yeah,” Morgan said. “We’ve always done it that way.”

Morgan, speaking on dispatch operations, said dispatchers are required to be MULES certified to access law enforcement databases but are not licensed peace officers. He said dispatchers receive training specific to communications operations rather than law enforcement duties.

Attention was given to a grant tied to a Central Square system upgrade. Dispatch Supervisor Nicole Bexten said the county must purchase a network router that costs roughly $9,000 by March in order to complete the upgrade. Failure to do so could require the county to repay nearly $93,000 in grant funds to the state.

The router purchase was originally estimated at more than $16,000 but was later negotiated down, with installation and maintenance included. Commissioners indicated the county would work to ensure the purchase is completed in time to avoid losing grant funding.

Officials also discussed ongoing software and equipment costs, including annual contracts with Central Square and Motorola, and the importance of identifying replacement schedules for equipment with an estimated three-to-five-year lifespan.

The board reviewed which agencies currently receive dispatch services. The Maries County 911 center dispatches for the Maries County Sheriff’s Office, Vienna Police Department, Licking Police Department, area fire districts and ambulance services. St. James area calls are transferred to Phelps County, while Dixon ambulance calls are handled through Pulaski County.

Vienna Police Department paid $6,500 for dispatch services this year, while Licking Police Department paid $9,000. Officials said future cost-sharing arrangements would be determined by the 911 board.

Board members raised concerns about funding sustainability, employee benefits and long-term staffing. Discussion included whether contracting with a regional dispatch center might be more cost-effective than operating an independent center, particularly given health insurance and benefit costs for a small workforce.

Morgan noted that current dispatch employees were nervous about the change, citing questions about benefits.

“I have staff asking what’s going to happen to my sick time, what’s going to happen to my vacation? What’s going to happen to my health insurance?” Morgan said.

These are all concerns that will be addressed by the 911 Emergency Services Board during their meetings. The first scheduled meeting is in mid-December, day to be announced.

Officials cited regional cooperation in ambulance services and said similar models may need to be explored for 911 operations. Board members said consultation with Missouri 911 Interim Director Sarah Newell and other counties that have completed similar transitions would be critical.

The commission indicated all equipment purchased through 911 grant funds would ultimately transfer to the new 911 board, regardless of whether the Center remains in its current location. Officials agreed relocating the dispatch center would be cost-prohibitive, with Bexten making an estimate that it could range from $3 million to $4 million.

Concerns were also raised about aging wiring and infrastructure in the current communications room. Morgan reported system outages in recent months and said the wiring may need to be completely redone to prevent future failures.

The board discussed next steps, including projecting revenue from the 911 sales tax, organizing board officer elections and scheduling a future meeting with state and regional 911 officials. Filing for 911 board seats remains open through Dec. 30, and all interested parties are encouraged to file.

The meeting concluded with plans to gather additional documentation, including contracts, budgets and equipment inventories, before holding a more detailed planning session early next year.