ceercnnhe eee on A close call with a fire in a Thornhill residence severai weeks ago and the drowning af a Terrace bo, y one year ago have resulted in suggestions for an emergency 911 phone system in the area, Here’s a look at how such a system would operate, concen- . trating on one being installed in another northern regionai district. TERRACE — There used to be a fairly simple if time consum- ing way of contacting a police officer. The person needing assistance called a telephone operator who then activated a switch that Page f A10 — Terrace Standard, Wadnesday, February 27, 1991 911 - Simple but expensive | ax telephone office or a firehall, A patrolling police officer noticing the light would then either find a phone and call in or go to the telephone office for the message. This system was particularly used at night, says Terrace detachment commander Inspec- tor Lawrence Yeske, “There would be no one in the detachment at night. Often there would be only. one-man patrols,’’ he said, ° But now police have sophisticated communications ‘systems ranging’ from. radio fepeaters atop mountains to smaller repeaters in police cars so officers using handheld People needing police help now only have to call their detachment’s local number. They are then in direct contact with somebody in the detach- ment during the day and at night with the RCMP’s nor- thwest coltimunications- system .in Terrace. And it's that kind of sophistication of combining phone lines with radio frequen- cles which is being merged with. all emergency services. Under the 911 system, a per- son. needing help has. only to dial those three digits and the appropriate service or services are notified and sent out, But the system is expensive _ attached to the top of the turned on a revolving red light radios can be in contact when on foot, Yeske said, close to $2.5 million in the Fraser-Ft. George regional Rupert has system already TERRACE — Probably the cheapest 911 emergency phone service in B.C. is located in Prince Rupert — but there’s a reason. It's provided by Prince Rupert City Telephones, owned and operated by the city. Telephone company general manager Bruce Kerr said the only cost is the $140 a month for four trunk lines connected to the 911 number. That's far less than the $2.5 million itll take to put in 911 in the Fraser-Fort George regional district and its estimated $1.5-$1.8 million an- ‘nual operating cost. “It’s basically a service that City Tel provides for the citizens,” said Kerr of the system which has been in place since 1978. It also covers neigbouring Port Edward. Calls to 91] are connected to the RCMP communications centre in Prince Rupert which. hantiles Police communications for that city - Mand fe fot Port’ Edward. Fife calls are relayed by’~ RCMP operators to the two fire departments and ambulance calls patched through to that service's central dispatch system in Kamloops, The system works well because it is limited to Prince Rupert and Port Edward, the vast ma- jority of the population in that area is concen- trated in those two municipalities and it was easily adapted to the existing RCMP. com- munications centre which handles only police calls for that area. Kerr said the system doesn't have sophisticated equipment which automatically gives a 911 operator the address from which a ‘ call is being made. Instead, operators use printouts updated monthly to cross-reference the telephone number with the address, * He said that automatic address system will be” installed this fall. i OAM gabe a 3 district where it’s now being in- stalled. The estimated annual . operating cost is $1.5 to $1.8 ‘million, - This 911 service centered around Prince George will cover the area to the west beginning at Cluculz Lake, east to McBride and Valemount, | north - Mackenzie and south halfway to Quesnel when it's operational late this year, Fraser-Fort George regional district official Tom Yates said 911 there grew out of a SUBgES- tion that it be introduced in the city of Prince George. “It became apparent that the service would be expensive and having it only for Prince George would’ t work effectively as woult one for the surrounding area,” he said, Yates acknowledged that: - while the capital cost figure is ’ high, first estimates were that the average home owner will: pay only $15 a year for the ser- vice, That figure includes debt retirement over a seven-year period, The regional district hopes to reduce the $2.5 million capital cost by getting a provincial $813,000 lottery grant. Of the $2.5 million amount, $1.2 million is being spent on B.C. Tel and other phone equipment:and $795,000 on the radio system to be used to dispatch fire calls. Annual operating costs in- clude $540,000 in B.C. Tel . charges, $210,000 to hire 91] operators, $467,500 in wages for fire call dispatchers and . $386,000 in estimated debt retirement. | 7 PROFESSIONAL TRUCK-MOUNT POWER CARPET CLEANING ~—s. FREE © ee With AX-20 Aotary Jet Extraction 798-2257. Quality Work ~ On Location {cludes Soup. A dicwra TASTE EXPERIENCE LUNCH Mediteranean Style Chicken With Aico and Greek Satad In- ‘DINNER: | 12 oz. Rib Steak Smothered in Red Wine Sauce. Served with Fresh Vegetable and Cholce of Baked Potato or Rice. $14.95 COME IN AND ENJOY DAILY LUNCHEON SPECIALS Open 7 days a weak, Lunch Mon. - Fri. — 11:30 - 2:00 p.m. Dinner 4:30 - 11:00 p.m, POR RESERVATIONS CALL 638-0644 or 638-1503 4402 Lakelse Ave. Terrace $6.95 li’s A Fresh Adventure B.C. Job Protection Commission _ Healthy community life depends on secure businesses and jobs. ‘Through: the formation of the B.C. Job Protectionss:. Commission, part of the government's new Taxpayer Protection Plan, the Ministry of Regional and Economic Development ds taking action to keep businesses running and jobs protected. The mandate of the Commission is to prevent or reduce the impact of plant closures and layoffs in A) 7 pyotection dn - ‘Terrace Hazelton aa f Houston : Smithers Hon. dohn Savage. Minister of Parks : milli fie ‘ 2:00 p.m. - Burns Lake March 6 PU BLIC MEETING | “RB. C. Parks invites you to participate in “the Master Planning Process for the Babine Mountains Recreation Area. | ‘Your input is valuable in helping to deter-. ‘mine the management guidelines in this popular alpine area. . If you have questions or concerns, >. - please attend a meeting in your area. , .- An Open House will be held from oN ae 5:00 p.m., “and a Public Meeting from 7:00 p.m. - March 4 March 5. Centre March 7 Hall March S. 9:00 p.m. in each community Inn of the West National Exhibition Lakes Art Gallery . ‘Houston Legion Hudson Bay Lodge. . businesses that are the mainstays _ the Interior and the North. . _ Its philosophy is to provide short-term assistance for arm's length from the | .. of affected parties, ~. which may include _ shareholders, managers, ~ customers, creditors, util- +: The Commission may ‘offer eligible businesses three L Counselling: ae The Commteslons will assist with the cost. “of professional advisors to identify. possi- - |. <> ble courses of action that would enable . ae the business to survive. aan |. The Commissioner may become directly. involved in mediating a plan to prevent, no of communities, especially in - businesses which, in the long term, can stand on their own. . Its purpose is to keep paycheques coming in for British Columbians. HOW IT WORKS The Commission, led by Commissioner Doug Kerley, will operate at ‘government to seek the voluntary co-operation union and non-union employees, suppliers, ities and governments. ‘kinds of assistance: | 2, Mediation: . the closure of a plant or to reduce the i. ..., impact of of such a closure o ona community . Victoria, B.C., V8V 1X4 or calls: ce aa i _ in Vancouver 775-0162 or outside Vanco oe 3. Economic Plan: This form of assistance applies only to ‘strategic industries’ - those businesses whose operations are deemed significant to local or regional economies. In negotiating an Economic” Plan, the Commissioner may authorize various - voluntary concessions from governments or utilities, . The B.C, Job Protection Commission is appointed fora two-year period, | It will see British Columbia through the current... -. challenge of tough * economic times. For further information, write, B.C. Job Protection Sonmiasiny nee Parliament Buildings . "Toll-free 1-600- 665-4605 . me “Working together, we'll protect jobs, a paycheques, businesses, contmunities and. the quality of life in™ British Columbia,” ”, Honayrable Bud Smith; Q: C.. Minister of Regional and Economic = Developmen Pyteaeirrcae gt ta at he ae . = a ? be amare ee eee