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Christian County 9-1-1
Mickie Ehrhardt, Administrator
Office (217) 287-7911
mobile (217) 825-8846
fax (217) 824-7890
EMAIL: christian911@ctitech.com
ABOUT 9-1-1
The Christian County 9-1-1 seeks to provide the most effective emergency communications possible. The ETSB (Emergency Telephone Systems Board) carries out tasks with an eye toward the future and strive to make innovative, cost-effective decisions to benefit the agency as well as all Christian County and it’s service area.
CHRISTIAN County uses a type of 9-1-1 known as Enhanced 9-1-1. This system provides the telecommunicator with the callers name, address and telephone within seconds of answering the phone for wireline (home and business) calls. Enhanced 9-1-1 is a complicated and sophisticated telephone system.
Christian County’s 2010 fiscal operating budget is $513,591. It employs 4 full-time telecommunicators, 2 part-time telecommunicators, 1 Administrator and a part-time Clerk. Christian County 9-1-1 is fully funded by surcharge revenue. Christian County assesses a surcharge of $2.00 per line on all wireline telephone bills. This surcharge has not been increased since its adoption by the voters in August, 1991.
Wireless (AT&T, Sprint, US Cellular & Verizon) users pay a surcharge of .75 cents per line. This is a state-wide rate. Funds are collected by the State of Illinois and a portion of that charge is distributed to the 9-1-1 centers, or Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP’s). Christian County 9-1-1 answers all wireless 9-1-1 calls in Christian County 9-1-1’s designated area using Phase II technology.
OUR GOALS
Provide the most effective Emergency Communications possible.
Provide good jobs to competent people.
3. Maintain professional standards.
4. Assist other agencies when possible.
5. Be innovative.
6. Establish a relevant and effective training program.
7. Follow established financial guidelines set forth by the Christian County Emergency Telephone Systems Board and Illinois Commerce Commission.
When to Call 9-1-1
Call 9-1-1 in an emergency when you believe that the fire, police or ambulance is needed.
Some examples of when to call are:
When you see fire or smoke
When you or someone with you is in danger
When you see a crime being committed
When someone is hurt or sick
When someone is trying to break into your house
When someone is prowling around your house or neighborhood
When a child is approached by a stranger
Some examples of when NOT to call 9-1-1 are:
To obtain weather or road reports
To report utility problems (such as power outages)
To ask for directions
To obtain general information pertaining to police reports
To request a taxi cab or ride
To request an ambulance for non-emergency, routine transports
To find out what time it is
To report dogs barking
To ask for a phone number
Remember that 9-1-1 is not for jokes; it is for people that need help.
9-1-1 is to be used for emergencies.
For general inquiries, contact your local police department. That and other non-emergency numbers should be found in your local telephone book. 9-1-1 In Christian County
9-1-1 ADDRESSING
How to obtain a New 911 Address?
If you plan to build a new home or structure in a rural area of Christian County, you will need to contact the 9-1-1 Administrator’s Office via email, phone or in person to obtain an application to start the process of obtaining a new 911 address. Municipalities/Villages typically assign their own addresses within their boundaries (usually the local Post Offices, municipal/village clerk or water department will do this). If you require an address in a municipal/village boundary, you can contact them directly to start the process. If you plan to build a home or structure outside of municipal/village boundaries, you will be required to have a 9-1-1 address before getting electrical, phone, septic tank or water installation.
As a general rule, the entrance to the structure being addressed must be in place prior to submitting the application, as this determines point of address.
Click here for Address Application Questionnaire form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send text or picture messages to 9-1-1?
No, the current 9-1-1 system is designed for voice communications. Other types of data, such as text messages, pictures and video cannot be accurately interpreted by the system, and therefore cannot be directly received by the 9-1-1 centers. For more information on future enhancements, click here to visit the Next Generation 9-1-1 System (NG911) concepts.
What is Enhanced or E-911?
The Enhanced 9-1-1 system has been operating in Christian County since 1993. This system allows citizens of Christian County and its 9-1-1 service area to use one number in an emergency and be selectively routed to the Christian County PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point). This selective routing is based on the address for wireline and some internet/broadband telephones and is based on the cell site that processes the call for cellular phones.
9-1-1 calls are directly routed to the 9-1-1 center. If fire or medical services are needed, the appropriate agency(ies) will be dispatched. If Christian County Sheriff’s police are needed, the caller is handled in the 9-1-1 center. If other police agencies are needed, the caller &/or the information will be transferred to that police agency.
The Enhanced system also provided automatic number and location identification on a screen at the 9-1-1 center. Wireline phones display the phone number, address and subscriber information on the 9-1-1 screen, which the telecommunicator is required to verify. Internet/broadband (also called VoIP) phones display the phone number, address and subscriber information that the subscriber has registered with the service they utilize (i.e. Vonage, Magic Jack and some cable/satellite providers), so it is extremely important that internet/broadband customers keep their information up to date with their provider. Wireless phones will provide the phone number (if the phone has active service with a wireless vendor) and a general area the wireless phone is in. Depending on the wireless coverage in the area and the type of wireless phone, the accuracy of the location provided varies greatly. 9-1-1 callers using a wireless phone should always be prepared to provide their location to the 9-1-1 telecommunicator.
When will I be asked if I call 9-1-1?
For all 9-1-1 calls, you will be asked for the location of the emergency, the phone number you are calling from and the nature of the emergency. Once the nature of the emergency is established, the telecommunicator will ask you questions pertaining to your emergency and may give you pre-arrival instructions. It is important to speak clearly and to answer all of the questions the telecommunicator asks you as calmly and completely as possible. 9-1-1 telecommunicators are trained to ask specific questions that relate to the type of emergency you are experiencing. While you may be asked many questions, this information is not delaying a response by emergency personnel. In fact, emergency personnel are typically dispatched as soon as the location, nature and some key question answers are obtained. The 9-1-1 center will continue to relay the necessary information to the emergency personnel while they ask you questions, and in some cases they may keep you on the phone until help arrives.
Never hand up until the 9-1-1 telecommunicator tells you to do so, unless there is a threat to your safety.
What if I call 9-1-1 by mistake?
Should you ever call 9-1-1 by mistake, stay on the phone and tell the telecommunicator that you misdialed, and that you do not have an emergency. If you hang up the call receiver will try to call you back. In either instance, the telecommunicator will notify law enforcement of the call and an officer may be dispatched to verify there is no emergency.
It is important to teach children that 9-1-1 is available if they need emergency assistance, but that the phone is not a toy and it is not a joke to call 9-1-1.
What if I have a problem calling 9-1-1?
Wireline phones are the most reliable for calling 9-1-1, so whenever possible use a wireline phone when you need to call 9-1-1. Pay phones can be used to call 9-1-1 without inserting coins. In case of power outages, be aware that VoIP/Internet/Broadband phone service will not work. If you have wireline phone service, you should keep a basic, corded phone that does not require electricity available to use during power outages.
If your address has displayed incorrectly when you call 9-1-1, you should contact your telephone service provider to have your information corrected.
What is I need assistance to make a 9-1-1 call?
If you do not speak English or have trouble conveying the needed information in English, interpretation services are available at the 9-1-1 center in Christian County.
If you are deaf or hearing impaired, 9-1-1 centers are equipped with TTY devices and telecommunicators are trained in their use.
Can I call 9-1-1 from a wireless phone with no active service?
Wireless phones with no active service can still call 9-1-1, as long as they have battery power. However, be aware that limited information will be available to the 9-1-1 center, and if you are disconnected the 9-1-1 center will not be able to call you back. The 9-1-1 center may have a general location of the phone, but that data may not be available.
There are serious problems with 9-1-1 centers receiving repeated calls from children playing with de-activated, or old, wireless phones. These calls tie up 9-1-1 lines so real emergency calls may not get through. In 2008, 86% of the 9-1-1 calls from de-activated phones were inappropriate calls, including misdials, hang-ups, or most of which are children playing with an old phone.
To help solve this problem, please do not give you old wireless phones to children to play with unless you take the battery out.
EMPLOYMENT
Christian County Public Safety Communications, composed of 9-1-1 and Sheriff’s Office dispatch, currently employs 8 full-time telecommunicators and 2 part-time and accepts applications at any time. Responsibilities include routine and emergency dispatch functions for local police, fire and ambulance services. Information is received via radio, telephone (9-1-1 and Non-Emergency) and computer efficiency. Candidates with proven ability to work under stressful and/or emergency conditions will be given preference. Proficiency in data entry is required. Skill testing and drug screening (for the successful candidate) will be conducted. The starting salary for full-time is $17.50/hr. plus benefits.
Christian County 9-11- is a department of Christian County and follows their prescribed hiring and personnel procedures. Applicants may apply for this position at the Christian County Sheriff’s Office, 301 W. Franklin St. Taylorville, IL 62568, at the Office Clerk’s desk on the main floor. You may also apply by mail or fax: 217/824-7890 after first requesting an application mailed to you, or you may download and print our application form:
CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION FORM
For more information, contact the Sheriff’s Office at (217) 824-4961.
9-1-1 Telecommunicator
FOIA REQUEST
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST
The Freedom of Information Act is an act in relation to access of public records and documents. Other State or Federal laws and acts such as the Privacy and Security Act or Juvenile Court Act, which take precedence over the Freedom of Information Act, may prevent your access to all or part of the information you have requested. To assist a search pertaining to your request and help determine your right to access, please complete the information requested below.
FOIA Request Form
9-1-1 BOARD
911 Board Meetings are Held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm in the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.
Andy Goodall
Public Representative
Chairman
Bruce Kettelkamp
Christian County Sheriff
Elected Official
Vice-Chairman
Leland Allison
Moweaqua Fire
Secy/Treas.
Jack Pearce Jr.
County Board
Angel Palmer
Assumption Ambulance
EMS
Mel Wempen
Morrisonville EMA
Mark Ford
Mt. Auburn PD Chief
Law Enforcement
Greg Sims
Il. Dept. Corrections
Rod Bland
Pana Fire Chief
ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE
Mickie Ehrhardt, Administrator
Office (217) 287-7911
mobile (217) 825-8846
fax (217) 824-7890
EMAIL: christian911@ctitech.com
MABAS DIVISION 50
Information will soon be added.
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