BELLE — The individuals currently serving on the Maries County Emergency Services Board were not originally elected to their positions, but instead appointed by the Maries County Commission as part of the effort to establish the board.

Appointed from the western side of the county are Allan Pollerisz, representing fire services; Don Lanning, representing ambulance services; and Steve Sinden, who serves in active law enforcement and has been a county resident for more than 10 years.

Appointed from the eastern side of the county are Stephen Conrad, a retired former ambulance board member serving as a public representative; Keith Kilmer, a retired law enforcement officer who brings a public safety background; 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 to chair the board and oversee its organization and transition process.

Now, those same individuals are seeking to retain their roles through the electoral process, with their names appearing on the ballot as candidates for the Maries County Emergency Services Board.

Each candidate was sent a questionnaire and these are the responses received by The Advocate.

1. What is your background in emergency services and volunteer boards that will contribute to starting a new emergency services board?

Bonnie Prigge:

“I have served on the board of the Vichy Volunteer Fire Protection Association since 1989 and have served as the board president for 36 years. We are an all-volunteer board and fire department, so I have had a lot of experience over the years with keeping a board active and functioning, coordinating volunteers, fund-raising, meeting state and federal requirements and completing paperwork. I can bring my familiarity with board development and government requirements, both from the perspective of the fire department but also in my work at Meramec Regional Planning Commission and as a small business owner, to this effort.”

Cindy Butler:

“I’ve been in healthcare as an RN for over 30 years. Spending several years in pre-hospital and emergency services. I continue to serve on Ozark Central Ambulance District board and on the Belle Rural Fire Protection board as well.”

Steve Sinden:

“I have served on two separate boards, one the Dixon ambulance board and the Dixon fire board. I have been a volunteer firefighter for 38 years. Been a police officer for 16 years.”

Keith Kilmer:

“I am retired as a Police Chief after working in law enforcement for 30 years. During that time I directly managed a dispatch center with over 50 dispatchers and various support personnel. I have served on several non-profit boards and have assisted our local Sheriff’s Department.”

Allan Pollreisz:

“I have been a volunteer with Vienna Volunteer Fire for over 30 years and have worked in the IT field for 24 years. I have supported the fire districts IT systems, including the ones relating to dispatching, as well as supporting various phases of dispatching and communication in my IT career for IT incidents, work reporting, and law enforcement.”

2. How do you plan to build the new board into a full organization? Where would you like to start?

Bonnie Prigge:

“The Maries County Commission did a great job in selecting the people for initial service on this board. Each of us brings unique skills and expertise to the effort, and we are working well together. This appointed board started in December 2025 by meeting with the county commission and discussing the work that needed to be done. We have also met with Missouri 911 staff for guidance and are working on the ’to-do’ list that group suggested. We have secured our EIN and state tax ID number, have finalized the bylaws and procured for a financial institution. We are awaiting our tax-exempt status and soliciting proposals for an insurance agent of record and accounting services. We have divided up duties and are working on a budget, personnel policies and equipment.”

Cindy Butler:

“In an appointed board, we have already begun to build the foundation. Starting with established by-laws and becoming familiar with the state regulations associated.”

Steve Sinden:

“The plan is to get the board organized and start planning on moving forward with everything and to keep the citizens in the County safe. Where to start is from the beginning by working together as a board and working with the current Sheriff and the staff that is already working.”

Keith Kilmer:

“The Emergency Services Board is up and running.  Members have made significant strides in analyzing current operations and developing a budget, as well as looking at best practices used at other agencies and potential dispatch facilities. The next step involves a smooth transition of dispatch services.”

Allan Pollreisz:

“We must treat this like building a new successful business, because this is what we have been asked to do.  We have started by contacting and interviewing those that have done this before.  Taking that knowledge, we will gather all the statutory requirements and build the organization to adjust to the needs of the community and the agencies we will serve.”

3. What are the biggest emergency services challenges in the area that the board plans to address?

Bonnie Prigge:

“Our charge is to provide 911 dispatching services to Maries County. We will transition from a county-operated dispatch to one that is operated by the Maries County Emergency Services Board. We appreciate that the voters of Maries County approved a 1-percent sales tax to fund this effort because this funding source should allow us to hire more dispatchers at a better rate of pay and provide more training to those dispatchers and allow for equipment upgrades.”

Cindy Butler:

“Challenges are multi faceted but the main focus of this board is developing a more robust dispatching service that will focus on integrating research based technologies providing emergency services of Maries County optimal communication.”

Steve Sinden:

“The biggest emergency services challenge is there needs to be more training for the dispatchers for the safety of the citizens of the county.”

Keith Kilmer:

“Being that 911 calls for emergency services are such a vital part of community safety, we need to ensure that our dispatch center is staffed appropriately with well trained and professional employees, capable of performing such an important and demanding job when needed.”

Allan Pollreisz:

“I feel consistency and accuracy are paramount to this process. That goes for all parts of the process, staffing, technology, communication, and response.  Much of this comes through repletion in a discipline like this, Dispatching is a tough job, but it must start with good training, staff, technology, and information.”

4. Why do you want to serve on the board?

Bonnie Prigge:

“The board that has been established is dedicated and committed to developing a new 911 dispatch operation for Maries County emergency response agencies and county residents. We have made good progress in the three months that we have been meeting, and I want to continue that work. I have served as the chair since we formed. My background and experience add value to this effort. As a resident of Maries County and the president of the Vichy Volunteer Fire Dept., I have a vested interest in 911 services. Vichy Fire, like all emergency response agencies, relies on 911 dispatch to ensure that the appropriate response agencies are dispatched to an emergency. As a county resident, I want to make sure that when you dial 911, you get the best service that our funds will provide.”

Cindy Butler:

“To be able to utilize my knowledge, experience, and talents to improve the emergency services of the county I reside.”

Steve Sinden:

“I like to protect and serve the citizens of the county. I was born and raised in Maries County.”

Keith Kilmer:

“I care about our community and am grateful to be able to utilize my professional background to help move this organization forward in a fiscally responsible way, and to ensure that the best services possible are provided.”

Allan Pollreisz:

“Over the years I have experienced the changes and challenges in emergency telecommunications. And I understand that the key to any successful emergency response starts with how the information is received and communicated to the responders. I feel with our experiences we can help by narrowing the focus of the dispatch office.”

5. What is your connection to the community?

Bonnie Prigge:

“I have lived in Vichy/Maries County my entire life, except for the four years I spent at college at the University of Missouri-Columbia. I grew up on a farm a couple of miles from the airport and attended Maries County R-2 Schools. When my husband, Mike, and I married, we made our home in Vichy. My son and daughter attended Maries County R-2 Schools. During their school years, I helped with class parties, assisted with Booster Club, helped form a PTO and served on other committees that brought me into contact with other county residents. I have worked for Meramec Regional Planning Commission since 1991, serving as the executive director for the past 15 years. In that capacity, I have the honor of working with local governments and organizations in eight counties, including Maries County. My involvement with the Vichy Volunteer Fire Dept. started while I was in high school, volunteering in the cook shack at the Ozark Extravaganza. I have served on the VVFD board since 1989. Additionally, Mike and I own 63 Auto and Truck Parts at Vichy and have rental property in the Belle.”

Cindy Butler:

“Born and raised in Belle, Missouri.”

Steve Sinden:

“My connection to the community is I have lived in Maries County my whole life. I have a lot of family and friends that live in Maries County and being on the board is another way I can give back to the citizens of Maries County.”

Keith Kilmer:

“My family has been involved and attended church in the community for many years, and four of our children attend or have graduated from Maries R1, participating in team sports, FFA and other clubs. My wife Rob owned the Dance Academy in Vienna and currently teaches at Maries R1.”

Allan Pollreisz:

“I met my wife Tammy in college and while we moved away after getting married, we always knew we wanted to move back to Maries County.  So, in 1994 we made the leap! We moved back and with the encouragement of some friends and family I joined Vienna Fire. Between our church and the department, I have built ties to this area that are way deeper than I could have ever realized. This is Home.”