POMEROY — Meigs County Emergency Services Director Douglas Lavender said Thursday the county’s long-awaited E-911 service will “go live” on Sept. 10.

Lavender attended Thursday’s regular meeting of Meigs County Commissioners. He said all systems are operational for the new service, and educational efforts are now being planned.

On June 30, Verizon North, Inc., the Meigs County coordinating telephone company, filed the final plan for the implementation of 911 service in Meigs County, and last week, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved the plan.

Under the plan, Verizon, Windstream Western Reserve, Inc. and AT&T Ohio will provide the county with 911 emergency telephone service. It will operate through the existing EMS office on Mulberry Heights. EMS dispatchers will answer calls. Depending on the nature of the call, Lavender said, the dispatcher will either transfer the call to the appropriate law enforcement agency — Middleport and Pomeroy Police and Meigs County Sheriff — or dispatch units directly.

Lavender said at least one additional dispatcher will be added to the daily rotation now in place, probably to fill a 12-hour overlap shift to assist a full-time dispatcher during the busiest times.

Lavender said efforts will be made in local schools to educate children about the proper use of E-911, and he said he will meet with any groups or organizations who would like to learn more about it.

Verizon will charge its Meigs County subscribers a monthly rate of 24 cents per access line for the service. Windstream will charge 25 cents and AT&T will charge 12 cents per access line for the service. Meigs County voters approved a 50-cent telephone line fee for the service, which will be collected in addition to the phone surcharges.

With the approval of Meigs County’s 911 operations plan, all 88 Ohio counties now have E-911 emergency service.

Other business

Commissioners approved the transfer of title of an EMS truck to Columbia Township. The EMS operation recently gave the township fire department a newer ambulance to replace it, and because its resale value is expected to be low, Lavender suggested the department be permitted to keep it for use in firefighting and rescue work.

Lavender said Columbia Township can now provide first-responder service to residents there, because state law now permits response by a squad staffed by one first responder and one Emergency Medical Technician.

Commissioners also:

• Approved payment of bills in the amount of $323,686.90.

• Approved appointment of Gerald Powell, Pomeroy, to the Gallia-Jackson-Meigs Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services.

• Approved a bid for bituminous materials for September, from Asphalt Materials, Inc., Marietta, and referred the bid to County Engineer Eugene Triplett.

• Approved contracts for daycare service for clients of Department of Job and Family Services with Sycamore Run, French City Care Center, Nova Learning Center, Heart of the Valley Headstart, Athens Church of Christ, OESG Tiny Tots, A Caterpillar Clubhouse, Cara Hall Daycare, and Bundles of Joy.

Present were Commissioners Mick Davenport, Tom Anderson and Michael Bartrum, and Clerk Gloria Kloes.