Perry County votes on outsourcing 911 dispatch

PERRY COUNTY, Mo., (KBSI)- Perry County is voting on the decision to outsource their 911 dispatch center to St. Francois County or to keep it local.

It’s a decision dispatchers say is emotional dispatcher, Kaitlyn Corke told us, “I’ll be happy to see the waiting game come to an end tonight. I personally want to see 911 stay local because my livelihood depends on it, but I also feel it is safer for the community as a whole.”

Kim Kimmel is a veteran dispatcher in Perryville and she says she wishes to see 911 stay local as well, “I think the citizens should have a say in this. Because we voted on this tax increase, for the justice center, to better…in fact that’s what they said better together. Better for county, and better for city. for sheriff and police.”

Perry County Sheriff Jason Klaus says either way the county will be in good hands, and staff will have opportunities for employment elsewhere such as the new Justice Center.