CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A more than three decades old organization in West Virginia that represents county 911 systems has its first-ever executive director.
The state E-911 Council has hired former Wyoming County 911 Director Dean Meadows for the new position as the discussion increases about the next phase of 911 service.
The Register-Herald, Beckley)
Meadows will represent the council and its members as the state ramps up plans for Next Generation 911.
“It’s important that we have an executive director, someone that can represent all of the counties, not only on a state level but also on a regional and federal level,” Meadows said. “We thought it was very important to establish this position now.”
Next Generation 911 will enable residents to text to 911, send video and pictures. Meadows said location information will be much more accurate and call speeds will be increased.
State lawmakers passed a bill earlier this year creating a commission to review Next Gen 911 and its implementation in West Virginia. The commission is scheduled to give lawmakers a report before the end of the year.
Meadows said the county 911 systems have been preparing for the enhancements for several years.
“We’re not looking for any money from the legislature at all,” Meadows said. “We have actually been budgeting this money we receive from the wireless fee and landline fees we receive in our counties. This is something we’ve been budgeting for.”
Meadows said the E-911 Council is committed to keeping autonomous county 911 systems.
“We believe that emergencies are local,” Meadows said. “We want the people in Martinsburg and Matewan to have the same capabilities when they call 911 as well as a big county like Kanawha and a small county like Clay.”
Meadows said residents know how frustrating things can be when they call their local utility for help and get someone from outside of West Virginia.
Meadows was 911 director in Wyoming County for 31 years before retiring earlier this year. He said he came out of retirement for the new job because he believes in county 911 operations.
“I still have such a heart for 911 and want to see it succeed and I want to see us be on the cutting edge with Next Generation 911,” Meadows said.
There are currently 52 separate 911 systems in West Virginia that cover the state’s 55 counties.