Defiance County prepares to take emergency calls

8/12/2004

DEFIANCE - The chairman of Defiance County's 911 board said leaders are preparing to answer the city's emergency calls - possibly yet this year.

Sheriff David Westrick said yesterday this includes asking the county commissioners to approve placing a 911 levy increase on the November election ballot. The current 0.7-mill levy would be raised to 1.2-mills, the sheriff said.

Defiance city administrators have proposed closing the city's dispatch center, taking seven jobs with it, to help stave off an anticipated budget deficit of about $800,000 for next year. A final decision on the matter is pending a review at a city council finance committee meeting Tuesday.