Hello 911
By: Leah Kirstein
Updated: March 22, 2012
ELK COUNTY - In the early 90s, the Elk County 911 Center moved from a small space in the Elk County Court house to a 1950s style ranch home just below their tower.
They thought they would only be there for a year before a new buidling was built, but 20 years later they were still in the same facility.
As their phone system slowly aged they knew it was time to move. They had plans to build their own building, but then the ITEC facility became available and it was more affordable to renovate.
In mid- February, dispatchers and staff moved into the new facility.
"I feel very fortunate to be here at this time and to have been here at the beginning and it's just a great thing for our dispatchers, our staff, and our community" said Sherri Lovett, 911 coordinator.
Lovett has been with the center since 1980.
She told Your News Leader the upgrades in the facility make it easier for everyone to do their jobs.
"It makes it easier in the sense that with our upgraded equipment our dispatchers are better able to find the location of callers" she said.
Each dispatcher now has double to screens in front of them so, they never have to close an important window and when busy 6 dispatchers can work rather than 4.
"We have the ability to help other counties once our new phone system is in if they should become busy we can actually pick up their calls" she said.
The system works viceversa too making it a win for multiple counties.
