Owners of buildings of 40,000 square feet or more would have another year to install costly new equipment to improve emergency 911 telephone services under a bill recently introduced by state Sen. Dick Klemm (R-Crystal Lake).
The bill would give owners of such buildings until June 30, 2001, to install new equipment that enables police and rescue dispatchers to see not only the address where a call originates but also the location within the building, Klemm told the County Board’s Legislative Committee on Friday.
County officials last month complained to Klemm that the current law, which requires installation of the telephone equipment by June 30, is too costly for the small benefits that would be derived.
County Administrator Alfred Johnson said it wil probably cost the county $50,000 to upgrade its phone system.
“We have a 12-year-old phone system that is probably going to need to be replaced in three or four years anyway,” Johnson said. “To put $50,000 into it for this is a tough pill to swallow.”
Donald Englert, regional superintendent of schools, said many school districts will have to spend thousands of dollars to upgrade their phone systems. Officials also worry about the costs to businesses, many of which still do not know of the June 30 deadline.
Because there is so much opposition, Klemm said he believes there is a good chance the General Assembly will delay implementation another year.