County’s fees remain the same

Ste. Genevieve – Ste. Genevieve County is nearing the end of its three-year agreement with St. Francois County’s 911 Joint Communications Center in Park Hills. The agreement, which began at the start of 2011, included the consolidation of 911 dispatching services with St. Francois County.

According to the Ste. Genevieve Herald, no changes are expected at this time in the percentages for the services contract. The move has given the county access to better technology, including Phase 1 wireless signal tracing, microwave communications and improved mapping programs.

The county is paying about $450,000 this year for the services from the 911 dispatching center under the current contract. Included in that is $150,000 per year anticipated from landline phone fees paid by county residents. Ste. Genevieve County paid 57 percent of the remaining $300,000, following the breakdown in each of the first three years.

The county covers the costs for the sheriff’s office, the City of St. Mary and fire departments in the county. The City of Ste. Genevieve paid 27 percent, and the Ste. Genevieve County Ambulance District paid 16 percent.