Homewood is planning to ask residents in the April 4 election to support installation of a 911 emergency telephone system by paying a 50-cent surcharge on their monthly telephone bills. Residents now must dial a seven-digit number to get emergency help.
Village trustees Tuesday night gave staff members the go-ahead to draft an ordinance placing funding of the 911 system on the ballot as a referendum question. The ordinance is expected to be approved on Jan. 24.
Homewood is asking for a 50-cent surcharge initially to raise the $80,000 needed to install the system. Officials noted that once the system is in operation, which would take about two years, the surcharge could be lowered to 36 cents a month to pay operating and maintenance costs, estimated at $48,000 a year. Homewood is looking at the enhanced 911 system, which automatically gives emergency operators the phone number and location of the caller once the telephone connection is made.
Acknowledging that neighboring communities have had little success recently in winning voter support of 911 referendums, Homewood officials promised a vigorous public relations campaign.
