BELLE — The Maries County Emergency Services Board continued laying the groundwork for assuming independent control of county 911 operations, addressing banking services, legal representation and equipment separation during their Feb. 20 meeting.

A portion of the meeting focused on dispatch equipment and software currently housed within the sheriff’s office. Board members said dispatch consoles and software systems are integrated with jail management, security cameras and courthouse access controls.

“It’s going to be messier than what we thought,” Alan Pollerisz, custodian of records, said.. “Because, it looks like to me that the dispatch consoles are integrated into sheriff’s operations also.”

Members agreed further review is needed to determine equipment ownership and how systems would be separated or transferred under the new structure.

“There’s a lot of information that we’re going to have to establish before we can move forward with it,” Pollerisz said.

Board members also approved publication of a request for proposals seeking banking services ahead of the July 1 transition date. The notice is scheduled to run Feb. 25 and March 4. Proposals will be reviewed at the board’s March meeting as members prepare to establish financial accounts for 911 sales tax revenue.

The new board is already taking steps to monitor their costs and to keep payouts as low as possible, even when it comes to the simplest of directives such as notice sizes to be printed in the newspaper.

“Under the public notice section, we don’t need any pretty pictures or graphics,” Board Chair Bonnie Prigge said. “Make it as cheap as it can be, one column right there.”

The board has obtained a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) and submitted paperwork for a state tax identification number. Members are also working to confirm tax-exempt status.

The agency has listed its official address as 211 Fourth St. in Vienna and will use P.O. Box 24 in Vienna as its mailing address.

Board members voted to contact an attorney experienced in 911 governance to discuss potential legal representation.

“It would be nice to have him on board now while we’re going through this,” Alan Pollerisz, custodian of records, said. “So they can look at bylaws and equipment splitting.”

Draft bylaws were also reviewed. The proposed document outlines officer duties, meeting procedures, conflict of interest provisions and financial oversight policies, including a requirement for dual approval on financial disbursements. The board intends to consider adoption of the bylaws at its March meeting.

Members discussed the need to secure insurance coverage, bonding and accounting services prior to July. Budget development is underway, with the board reviewing current county expenditures related to dispatch operations in order to project future costs once the board assumes responsibility.

“At that point, the only thing we’re gonna be able to cover that first month is possibly salaries of the people that’s there,” Pollerisz said. “It gets messy when you start looking at them (budget items).”

The board entered closed session near the end of the meeting to discuss personnel matters. No action was reported following the closed session.

The Maries County Emergency Services Board was appointed by the Maries County Commission on Dec. 1, 2025 as part of implementing the new 911 governance approved by voters. The seven-member board was structured to reflect geographic balance, with three members appointed from the west side of the county, three from the east side and one at-large representative. Board members are Allan Pollerisz, Don Lanning, Steve Sinden, Stephen Conrad, Keith Kilmer, Cindy Butler and Chair Bonnie Prigge. All members were present at Friday’s meeting, with Sinden attending remotely.

The board meets on the third Friday of each month, with March 20 scheduled as the next upcoming meeting date.