911 Board Honors Althoff, Discusses Adequacy of Ambulance Service

(RETIRED EFFINGHAM COUNTY 9-1-1 BOARD MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN NICK ALTHOFF WITH 9-1-1 BOARD CHAIRMAN JULIE STEPHENS)

At one of the longest Effingham County 911 Board meetings in memory, the Board took a few moments to thank someone who has been involved in 911 here from its beginnings.

Retired Effingham Fire Chief Nick Althoff worked to promote the referendum passed in the mid 90s that generated the funding for the establishment of 911 service in the county. Althoff later served on the 911 Board and chaired the group for several years.

In departing, Althoff commended System Administrator Jodi Moomaw and County Telecommunicator Supervisor Tina Daniels, who have been involved in setting up the system from its beginnings. He also reminisced about some of the rocky times in the early days of the system when there were battles over authority. Those tussles were eventually overcome and the system is rolling along 20 years after its establishment.

There was renewed discussion, though, over whether the county has sufficient ambulance coverage. Abbott EMS is contracted to provide service in the county, and utilizes Jasper County Ambulance Service to provide backup service. Some 911 Board members are concerned whether that is enough coverage, particularly when calls occur in the western part of the county, a long way from Jasper County. There was also discussion over whether the County is at Status Zero when there are no ambulances left in the county, or when there are no Abbott ambulances left in the county.

The issue has surfaced periodically since the County Board contracted with Abbott, and at least a majority of the members of the County Board's Ambulance Oversight Committee feel the current coverage is adequate.

There was sentiment at the 911 Board meeting to ask Abbott to add another fulltime ambulance rig. To finance that additional rig, the subject of a surcharge was discussed. 

The contract with Abbott has 1-1/2 years to go. It was suggested the issue be researched to have the facts in order when talks on a new agreement begin.

The 911 Board also discussed a software system known as "I Am Responding" that fire departments or other emergency agencies could use to report their locations when on a call, and reviewed whether 911's Spillman dispatching system should be made available to other agencies. There are concerns over who would have access to the system and what steps could be taken to make sure the system isn't compromised.

The 911 Board also elected officers for the next term. Public member Julie Stephens was re-elected Board Chairman. County Board Member Dave Campbell was again chosen Vice-Chairman. Public member Wayne Rubach was chosen Secretary/Treasurer, succeeding Effingham Police Chief Jason McFarland in the post. In a bit of 911 trivia, it's the first time since the system's establishment in Effingham County that the city police chief will not be serving as 911 secretary/treasurer. McFarland said he will be serving on another board that also meets on the day the 911 Board meets, and he isn't sure he will be able to attend both meetings each month.