LISBON — Columbiana County’s 911 Program Review Committee failed to make quorum and couldn’t take any action Thursday, but what was described as an informational session ended up deep in discussion regarding funding.

Only county Sheriff Brian McLaughlin and Salem Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey were in attendance, along with some other government officials and emergency responders.

St. Clair Township Trustee James Sabatini, Madison Township Trustee Wayne Chamberlain, and East Liverpool City Councilman Jeff Kreefer weren’t there.

County Commissioner Roy Paparodis, who was selected by commissioners to replace former commissioner Tim Weigle, was there, but with no quorum, he couldn’t be voted in as chairman of the committee.

County Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director and 911 Coordinator Brian Rutledge said it’s not written in stone, but the state was leaning toward having the state funding for wireless based on call volume. Because the state doesn’t want anyone to take a direct hit, he said it will likely roll out over five years.

He did the math and revealed the county’s share will gradually decrease from $290,000 last year, to $233,000 this year, to $218,000 in 2026, $207,000 in 2027, $199,000 in 2028 and $193,000 in 2029. The county’s 24,000 calls per year is in the lower half of counties throughout the state when it comes to call volume.

The subject of funding and the idea of consolidating the five Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) into one location has come up before.

“We’re no different than we were four years ago. We’re not any closer to getting a consolidated system,” Salem Service/Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello commented.

Dickey said she’s sick of all the mandates without money. She said “you can’t tell me we wouldn’t be farther ahead if all together.”

Paparodis said even if they tried to get everyone to pay their fair share, he’s not sure all the subdivisions would agree.

County EMA Director Peggy Clark said there are multiple options to fund consolidation, including a property levy or tax. Paparodis said politicians don’t want to do that.

Commissioner Tim Ginter said it would be his hope that the legislature would look at it again, but a plan for the county should not be based on that hope.

Dickey suggested finding out how each community with a PSAP feels about the idea of consolidation rather than continuing to talk about it at every meeting without any action.

The next meeting is tentatively set for 1 p.m. May 1, but Rutledge planned to check with the members of the committee to see if they feel it’s necessary to have a meeting before that.

He announced that the county’s Next Generation 911 system isn’t expected to go live now until the end of February.

The county was one of several pilot counties that previously went on the next generation 911 system which is now going statewide, requiring an upgrade of the county’s current equipment and software. The state gave the county money for the equipment.

Dispatchers were trained on the new equipment and there’s going to be another training session. PSAPs are located at the county sheriff’s office and police departments in Salem, East Liverpool, East Palestine and Columbiana.

mgreier@mojonews.com