County’s 911 levy subject to renewal

By Grace Geshrick
Beacon Correspondent

Alger County’s 911 millage will be up for renewal on the Aug. 4 ballot.
According to Sheriff Todd Brock, “it’s completely critical” that this millage be renewed.
The 911 millage helps support the local 911 department. Brock said 3,000 emergency calls were made to Alger County 911 services last year. It is “a renewal for one mill,” Brock stated. 

“Our 911 dispatch is the hub of our emergency services,” he said. “The pure aspect of having a 911 for our local dispatch is huge for our community.”

Retired sheriff David Cromell still remembers when the 911 millage was created. 

“I’ve been out of [the sheriff’s office] for 16 years.” Cromell said. “It started when I was in office. I was asked by a committee of 911 people that encompassed the board of commissioners and first responders.” 

The committee was formed to explore a millage that could be used to fund the 911 department. The committee put the millage on the ballot for a vote, and the millage was passed.

One of the first things the original millage aimed to rectify was the lack of uniformity in addressing residences for emergency services. 

“Some had post office boxes,” Cromell said. “Some just had road names.” 

The addressing was the committee’s biggest priority. The committee worked with the Chatham Telephone Co. and the Hiawatha Telephone Co. to correlate all of the addresses with phone numbers. 

“The townships signed all their roads, so we were pretty well set,” Cromell said. 

Another priority for the committee was setting up a computer system for the 911 department. 

“The function of 911 is to have a universal service, and it’s a computerized service that helps dispatchers tell where you are in an emergency,” Cromell said. As the years progressed, the millage provided funding to improve the 911 computer system through technological advancements. 

The 911 millage renewal will be on the ballot on Aug. 4. 

“The millage has been renewed since [the first passing of the millage] every time it came up for renewal,” Cromell said. 

Voters will decide whether to allow a levy of 1 mill for five years, which would generate about $557, 984 in the first year.

“It’s completely critical — this 911 millage — for our emergency services,” Brock said. “We work tirelessly on our emergency services.”