By The Salina Journal
SALINA, Kan. — More than $3.6 million in grants has been awarded to 47 agencies to help them implement changes in emergency dispatch systems that will assist cell phone and voice-over-Internet protocol users in calling 911 in emergency situations.
The money comes from a 25-cent monthly fee collected from wireless service accounts in Kansas and a 1 percent fee on the retail price of prepaid wireless service. Counties with populations of fewer than 75,000 and cities within those counties are eligible for grants.
Grant funding may be used to implement wireless enhanced 911 services; buy or upgrade or modify equipment; and train people to operate the equipment.
Grants awarded to north-central and northwest Kansas agencies included: Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office, $26,333; Concordia Police Department, $63,004; Decatur County Emergency Communications, $8,464; Dickinson County Emergency Communications, $83,136; Ellis County, $141,235; Ellsworth County Sheriff’s Office, $72,641; Graham County Sheriff’s Office, $27,997; Jewell County Sheriff’s Office, $26,837; Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, $53,198; Logan-Gove County Emergency 911, $106,353; Marion County Emergency Communications, $27,413; Mitchell County Communications, $24,855; Osborne County Sheriff’s Office, $129,131; Ottawa County 911, $100,812; Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, $114,898; Rooks County Sheriff’s Office, $45,373; Russell County 911, $188,879; Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office, $24,802; and Sherman County Communications, $10,854.