During a recent government meeting, officials discussed a proposed ordinance aimed at addressing the rising issue of false emergency calls to 911 services. Chief Stanley clarified that the intent of the ordinance is not to limit emergency services but to manage the misuse of the system, which has been increasingly burdened by non-emergency requests.

The chief highlighted that some individuals have been calling 911 for assistance with non-emergency tasks, such as requesting home health care or pet care, rather than genuine emergencies. He noted that a small number of individuals have made an excessive number of calls—seven people alone have called 911 a total of 137 times this year, significantly straining public safety resources.

The ordinance, developed in collaboration with the city attorney's office, aims to provide a legal framework for addressing these misuse cases. It will allow for local citations in line with state statutes, with only two designated personnel from the fire department authorized to issue these citations. Chief Stanley emphasized that the goal is to modify behavior rather than frequently enforce penalties, indicating that the ordinance is a last resort to ensure that emergency services remain available for those in genuine need.

The council plans to revisit the ordinance for action in an upcoming meeting, as officials continue to seek solutions to improve the efficiency of emergency response services.