Coles County 911

 


History

A steering committee was formed to study the need, feasibility, and preliminary implementation plans for a county 9-1-1. In April, 1993, a referendum was passed by Coles County voters approving a $1.95 telephone surcharge to fund an enhanced 9-1-1 system. The Coles County Board made appointments to the Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) to oversee the development and operation of the 9-1-1 system. Various committees were formed to make recommendations to the ETSB regarding facilities for the communications center, dispatching and 9-1-1 equipment, readdressing issues, personnel, and implementation decisions. Public safety dispatching services were consolidated utilizing state of the art computer aided dispatch, and began operating in a new communications center on March 17, 1997. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), a state agency that insures 9-1-1 systems comply with certain regulations, granted approval for Coles County Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) system to operate and the system went on-line May 5, 1997.

 

Nature of Business

Receive, disseminate, and document emergency requests for the police, fire, and ambulance countywide utilizing enhanced 9-1-1 technology routing 9-1-1 calls to the communications center. The enhanced feature of the system displays the caller's phone number, name, address, and the public safety responders responsible for that location. The communications center also handles non-emergency calls for multiple police, fire, and ambulance agencies.

 

Qualities & Skills Needed for Employment

Emergency services communications requires a personnel that have the ability to make decisions quickly based on certain policies and procedures, as well as common sense, especially in stressful situations. They must have excellent multi-tasking, selective listening, communications, and organizational skills. Any background or training in law enforcement, fire, or medical service is helpful. Computer aided dispatch requires rapid computer data entry.

 

Impact of Changing Technologies

Wireless telephone communications and the increasing use of this technology has required the government to examine and address the lack of regulations concerning their access to 9-1-1, lack of funding for 9-1-1 centers to handle wireless 9-1-1 calls , and the lack of technology to provide the 9-1-1 centers the location of the caller. Computer aided dispatch has made dispatching more efficient, and enhanced dispatchers' ability to maintain and retrieve records for the responders.

 

Vision for 2020

Fully utilize all capabilities of the computer aided dispatch, such as dispatching directly to responders via mobile data computers, and adding automatic vehicle locators to enhance response time and responder security. To implement enhanced wireless 9-1-1 technology as it becomes available. These goals, as well as others that may be required to stay abreast of changing technology, will require upgraded and additional computer hardware, software, and radio or data transmission technology. Funding future technological changed will undoubtedly be a major concern.

 


Coles County E-911

10500 State Hwy 16, Suite 1

Mattoon, IL 61938

235-2924 or 345-2939

 


Special thanks to Toni Niles, E9-1-1 Director for supplying information to assist us with this project.

Team members: Sagar Ravi and Doniyal Karbassioon

Return to Charleston, IL: A 2020 Vision