The Marion County Board Tuesday night approved a three-year contract to offer a county-wide Nixle warning system.
911-ESDA committee chair Steve Whritenour has been pushing for the service.
“The Nixle system started six months ago when we were talking about a hybrid weather alert system, but seeing the technology and what’s out there, there is a lot more that Nixle offers outside just the life-threatening weather situation, so this is a win for everyone in Marion County.”
Whritenour plans to begin working on the contract Wednesday so it is in place before any potential price increase with the start of the new year. He hopes the system is up and operating by spring.
Whritenour concluded his push of support with a simple message.
“If we are able to save one life out of this, it’s worth it. What’s $4,800? I think a life is worth a lot more than $4,800. That’s what the county has committed to this project.”
The total cost will be $11,740 a year, but Salem and Centralia have agreed to pay $3,250 a year, Wamac $500 a year, and Odin $300 a year.
Whritenour says the Nixle system can send messages by text, e-mail, or even landline phone.
Whritenour says multiple administrators will be appointed to allow each community in the county to post their own messages about emergency situations or community events. He notes it will be up to each community how much they want to utilize the system, but it will be there for them.
Board member Brock Waggoner cast the only no vote because there was no contract for board members to review.
In other action, the board agreed to create a separate fund for the $700,000 in this year’s budget for contingencies. County Treasurer Gary Purcell says this will be an interest-bearing account that will allow county board members to easily see how the money is being spent down. In the past, the contingency fund has just been kept in the general fund. Purcell also announced the general fund now has a $ 5 million surplus.
The board reappointed Wayne Walker to serve another two years on the Board of Review and Centralia Fire Chief Jeff Day to serve on the 911 Emergency Phone Board in place of retired Centralia Fire Chief John Lynch.
