New county 911 center running

By Nathan Mayberg
FRANKFORD — Sussex County's new communications center for 911, fire and first aid calls officially opened Tuesday and will immediately serve 10 municipalities.

Sheriff Michael Strada said planning and construction of the new 911 center has been in the works for more than a year.

Previously, 911 calls were handled by dispatchers paid for by individual municipalities or contracted out, Strada said.

Under the new system, municipalities that elect to use the countywide system will have to pay a fee to the county along with a per-call fee.

"We've designed the center to dispatch for the entire county," Strada said.

According to the Sussex County Sheriff's Department Facebook page, the 10 municipalities using the center are Branchville Borough, Frankford Township, Fredon Township, Green Township, Hampton Township, Lafayette Township, Montague Township, Sandyston Township, Stillwater Township and Walpack Township.

Strada estimated that Hampton Township could save more than $30,000 annually under the new agreement.

Strada said the center will not handle police calls, but that could change in the future.

The Sheriff's Department will run the operations of the center's dispatchers, and will continue to handle calls to the Sheriff's Department, as well as the fire, burglar alarm and first aid calls, Strada said.

Sheriff Michael Strada referred questions about the cost of the project to Sussex County Administrator John Eskilson.

Eskilson said on Monday that he didn't have the information available but would try to get it. As of Wednesday, the figures were still unavailable.

Strada said a $1 million federal grant will help pay for part of the new center, which is attached to the Sheriff Department's emergency services building in Frankford.

Reporter Nathan Mayberg can be reached by email at comm.reporter@strausnews.com or by calling 845-469-9000 ext. 359.