[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6258489,"mediaKeyId","3148204-5dbd33edb6811a8ddfebe17636fe7a86","parentId",3148204,"title","County emergency communications director details $17.9 million budget, NextGen 911 and radio upgrades","audioSeconds",1165,"startMs",4366000,"endMs",5531000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3148204-5dbd33edb6811a8ddfebe17636fe7a86&start=4366&end=5531","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3148204-5dbd33edb6811a8ddfebe17636fe7a86/thumbnail_4366000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6258489/St-Charles-County/Missouri/County-emergency-communications-director-details-179-million-budget-NextGen-911-and-radio-upgrades","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258489-fe9b76bd2ce0b691deb2b69b87629651/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187232&Signature=VZMUTnT-7oDtMrwSD9dKBBfKJN3kqSYiLYYceA0veGegPkdoHWWI8IGd2KEPusmjHALThDSUwUEvMEFt33GWGDf4xMNq60-KSwgMUPZnFU6XAM5uz8MrtM3z9mnc2w30PEEB6ng6HDnSIhiDVJhb5FhLKYXH1AEXQIQkpstBv5ry~tcuLFqaeyOKL~TPMYJaKOaSSbgCOL9SVBAcKQFgOdi13c7xNOyLlIh7lciGvIonq5EUXkF1gDzrOX5FxB2Y4RifsNdLsKIuasAo6QJTCjiRDLQ7CwilKss9jWuSfd5NtyhbFwZ-3THx~tvoTMhns2VrPY52iAWcqtBpWIk1RA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Charles County, MO","date","2025-04-29T13:11:05Z","article","Jeff Smith, director of Emergency Communications, told the council the department handled tens of thousands of emergency calls in 2024 and outlined a multi‑year capital program to modernize 9‑1‑1 infrastructure and the county radio system.

Smith said there were 128,601 9‑1‑1 calls placed countywide in 2024; of those the county center answered 36,872 police‑related 9‑1‑1 calls and transferred roughly 39,127 to fire and EMS PSAPs. The department manages six primary public safety answering points (PSAPs) and a secondary PSAP that handles fire and EMS dispatching.

Planned projects described by Smith included: a $6.4 million phone/hardware refresh across PSAP data centers (the county share ~ $3.7 million); a NextGen 9‑1‑1 IP‑based call‑routing transition (total project just under $5 million; county share ~$2.2 million) enabling improved location data, photo and text reception; station alerting to automate and speed fire/EMS paging (one‑time cost about $96,000 plus maintenance); an AI‑based quality/coaching tool called Comms Coach (annual $26,000); expanded RapidSOS services to improve caller location and language translation (setup ~$8,000 and ~$14,000 annually); and a large radio system capital replacement estimated at about $16 million with related operational cybersecurity and maintenance through 2034 (operations roughly $8 million over the term). Smith said the county previously passed a resolution supporting bonds to fund the radio upgrade and that a dedicated capital‑sales‑tax fund is expected to cover bond payments rather than general revenue.

Staffing and budgets: Smith said the department has 61 authorized positions and was short six dispatchers at the time of the briefing. He gave the department’s 2025 budget as $17.9 million, with personnel at $7.2 million, operating $7.1 million and capital $3.6 million. Funding comes from a mix of the dispatch/alarm property tax, the 9‑1‑1 fund (which relies on an increasingly small landline surcharge), radio subscriber fees and the county’s general revenue sales tax for police dispatching. Smith noted Missouri law now allows local authorities to place a cell‑phone fee before voters but the county has not pursued that option.

Council response and next steps: Council members asked about options to shore up recurring revenue for 9‑1‑1 services and about the timing for equipment refresh and NextGen implementation; Smith said the phone/hardware refresh should be complete this summer and NextGen later this year. He also noted the county is an early adopter of some tools and is coordinating cost‑shares with municipalities that operate PSAPs in the county.

No formal vote was required during the briefing. Several council members said they would follow up with staff on budget and revenue options for sustaining the upgrades.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","St. Charles County County Council Meeting - 4.28.25","oneSentenceSummary","Jeff Smith, director of Emergency Communications, presented call volumes, staffing and a multi‑year technology package that includes NextGen 9‑1‑1 routing and a county radio system replacement financed by dedicated funds.","taxTitle","St. Charles County, Missouri","taxId",2594,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6258494,"Residents say convention parking has become a safety nuisance; council and police promise quicker enforcement",3025,3147000,6172000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3148204-5dbd33edb6811a8ddfebe17636fe7a86&start=3147&end=6172","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3148204-5dbd33edb6811a8ddfebe17636fe7a86/thumbnail_3147000.jpg","/articles/6258494/St-Charles-County/Missouri/Residents-say-convention-parking-has-become-a-safety-nuisance-council-and-police-promise-quicker-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258494-b63d7273548edfd70edd290b23b407f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187232&Signature=BWLGxnglImSRs0qQXELaSCaseyQcubQp615agKQU3ObDW44D4xxfrDRV8Y0IF7fo-1hVrcWSI78u5Cte~jyGuX2uKqadu5dRwqsI6NLYrDtsPuZ80IFscQA4xj5-ssd-VoX5iJ05EI6NJ4UbSq90zdPQtz5xA5YQechTlgW1wFH--fexsBxkywnt-q29totmbvWlrQy7P6BEGiXvM1qH7lmPDkU1s4pczda8SKstEtcU7oX04cwaEJsJMG8eFpeYt0WH4C0raDv~5f5zeEOl9dr1LJTA2taQgAF~tsCh27NRR9eRU9c~OppNaupsKm5WzmGiAsRhCppYtj9U8ft2mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple residents who live near the St. Charles convention center told the County Council during public comment that large events—most recently an anime convention—left neighborhood streets blocked by event parking, prevented mail delivery, obstructed driveways, and posed a risk to emergency access.

Speakers said no‑parking signs installed before the event were not enforced. One resident said police told callers there was insufficient manpower to tow or ticket every illegally parked vehicle and that officers told callers it could take “three days” for tow enforcement during a busy weekend. Another resident reported people walking through yards, trashing property and fighting in front of houses.

Why it matters: Residents stressed public‑safety concerns—if a fire or ambulance needed to reach a home the parked cars could block access, they said—and asked for enforceable measures that take effect before the next major event.

Council and public‑safety response: Councilwoman Patty York and other council members acknowledged breakdowns in interdepartmental communication and enforcement this past weekend. Capt. Hunt and other police staff said some enforcement was missed because the uniformed patrol unit and other officers had not received consistent information about the temporary no‑parking signs; the department said that has been corrected and that officers will ticket blocked mailboxes and obstructed driveways. Council members also said they had asked staff to move a public hearing on a permanent no‑parking ordinance to the council agenda at the earliest available meeting instead of waiting until the originally scheduled date.

Residents offered possible remedies including restricted residential parking or temporary no‑parking zones during major events, better advance on‑site signage, use of shuttle parking and coordinated towing. Councilmembers said enforcement typically requires a clear ordinance or regulation to authorize towing and that residential‑parking programs can be administratively complex.

No new ordinance was adopted at the meeting. Council members said they will pursue earlier public hearings and coordinate with St. Charles City and convention‑center staff on overflow lots and signage before the next major event.","Residents near the St. Charles convention center told the County Council that vehicles from recent large events blocked driveways and created safety hazards, and they said posted no‑parking signs were not enforced.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6258499,"St. Charles County council hears consultant recap, emphasizes collaborative work sessions and rural preservation",950,114000,1064000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3148204-5dbd33edb6811a8ddfebe17636fe7a86&start=114&end=1064","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3148204-5dbd33edb6811a8ddfebe17636fe7a86/thumbnail_114000.jpg","/articles/6258499/St-Charles-County/Missouri/St-Charles-County-council-hears-consultant-recap-emphasizes-collaborative-work-sessions-and-rural-preservation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258499-2d524fc3a010f676c456504929b0576c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187232&Signature=YyjFsHfZHx3G0s5pDoH4L1VBUrERDXUQMauBZ2JeNw~IqwHZfoGfHySYpn2tIi2HF2wEE0o~HKcnFIf49olo6QSGzqfOohGHNdbHu27SHUEIgYeg-ycW4Qfld9uVOGL6Cr6EKIUBDSn4s51rr0vIbgQf-s8s4r8uvSgYemP65uhelG~SihPG~FNgtXamSxVMs23Nrd-6O4wtSwqp8fFFoiG4~IVbQNOhu9l581s6PoL05s5LX0-gRL91VdLYICHZN-6cZ4Bplsid7d-tIOZHPUcnlT9gIxDAjeZxpQZj-vGUD9cmex1VXOCpikK4BTw8DXg3Kk5~trEpu5Bvy~iUCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeremy, a facilitator retained to summarize the council retreat, told the St. Charles County Council that members converged around a preferred 10‑year vision he summarized as “Uncommon Ground,” where rural roots and urban progress coexist and leaders coordinate to build resilience.

The consultant described three future scenarios the group evaluated—growth, collapse and transformation—and said the council judged the growth path most likely but judged a more transformative path as the most important to pursue. He said members repeatedly raised the need for structured collaboration between the council, the executive branch and outside partners such as the Economic Development Council as a practical way to move toward that transformation.

Why it matters: Council members signaled they want specific work sessions and follow‑up steps so the body can be proactive rather than reactive on long‑range issues such as infrastructure, flood/stormwater, workforce and preservation of agricultural land. The group discussed using near‑term projects to build momentum toward larger, riskier “visionary bets.”

Key points from the presentation and council discussion included: the retreat mapped priorities along two axes—alignment with the council’s vision and feasibility—and identified “quick wins” and “visionary bets.” Road and bridge maintenance and crime prevention scored highly as near‑term priorities. Rural preservation and sports tourism emerged as high‑value, lower‑feasibility items the council wants to pursue over a longer horizon. Ideas discussed to bridge short‑ and long‑term goals included pairing road maintenance with rural‑tour pilots, embedding youth mentorship into sports‑tourism projects to advance crime‑prevention goals, and undertaking feasibility studies for modular sports complexes.

The report proposed several follow‑up steps the council could take: form a rural‑preservation task force (the consultant suggested co‑chairs), commission feasibility studies for sports tourism and modular complexes, explore partnerships for data centers (including Missouri’s “Silicon Prairie” efforts), and design a “legacy dashboard” to track indicators such as preserved acreage and stormwater events.

Council members who spoke supported moving from discussion to action. Councilwoman Patty York said the council needs to shift from being reactive to being deliberate in telling administration what it wants. Tim Baker urged proceeding with less‑formal work sessions to focus on particular infrastructure items and public engagement. Several members said some topics—like rural preservation and the master plan—will need longer, standalone sessions beyond the 45‑minute pre‑meeting window to allow deeper work.

The consultant and council agreed that using near‑term, feasible actions to build momentum toward longer‑term bets is a practical approach. The report author offered to help facilitate future collaborative sessions and to draft agenda formats the council could use.

The council did not adopt a formal policy or motion in this session; the discussion closed with members asking staff to set up follow‑up work sessions on topics including capital planning, stormwater, rural preservation, business attraction and the master plan.","A consultant presenting a retreat summary told the St. Charles County Council members they favored a 10‑year vision that blends growth with deliberate collaboration. Council members discussed pairing short-term “quick wins” with longer “visionary bets” such as rural‑land preservation and sports tourism.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6258484,"Council approves two ordinances; consent agenda passes after facilities item pulled",73,5671000,5744000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3148204-5dbd33edb6811a8ddfebe17636fe7a86&start=5671&end=5744","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3148204-5dbd33edb6811a8ddfebe17636fe7a86/thumbnail_5671000.jpg","/articles/6258484/St-Charles-County/Missouri/Council-approves-two-ordinances-consent-agenda-passes-after-facilities-item-pulled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258484-37c3f086b0cea1fd0f30a60e846922db/orig.mp4?Expires=1771187232&Signature=INlph851A6PsVxMwhy8~r9yH8utwjzgasM27bPMkoTKsxCzLMBSeUeJrpj6CK4SX0l04JVrif3x6PKnxbxOnB2tVy7jvKolrOFlAwcwXQgdcTjwLpq2j2st~j-AOn22XDLBrTytloqUN16SE-XQX1C9E3uG7K4HLUMuMm8KaGq~3YY~0E8hdTvq~5u3fQou3n5xgpvBnQTUQyCAQK35cJWdupgtJGJEeJwec9WpCNlZLgkq5Kqm-uSw3Wu51qLLjP1uYb5kWQxagtrAdFlWNFu1yXXImhxbDCmxndB14v6SoX-daRzs4CP7JXNKxPhlrFeRq-Vs2ZQeHnOg7GxMG5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Charles County Council voted on two ordinances on final passage and approved the remainder of the consent agenda after removing a facilities item for separate discussion.

Bills passed on final reading:

- Bill 5,381: An ordinance granting a water easement to Public Water Supply District No. 2 along Forestell Road through New Melly Lakes Park. Roll call votes were recorded as 'yes' by Council members who answered during the call of the roll; the clerk announced the bill passed.

- Bill 5,382: An ordinance authorizing the county executive to execute an agreement on behalf of the police department with the City of St. Charles (for the St. Charles City Fire Department) providing tactical medics for the county regional SWAT team. The roll call resulted in the bill’s passage.

Consent agenda: Council members moved to pull the facilities clerk and courtroom expansion item for discussion. The council then voted to approve the remainder of the consent agenda. After discussion, the facilities item was approved by separate motion.

Additional procedural action: During public comment the council agreed to allow additional speakers; members made and seconded a motion and voted to permit extra public‑comment speakers for the meeting.

No ordinance language, amendments or secondary legal references beyond the bill titles were offered during the roll calls recorded in the meeting minutes.","The St. Charles County Council approved two bills on final passage and approved the rest of the consent agenda after pulling a facilities item for discussion. Council members also agreed to allow additional public speakers during the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County emergency communications director details $17.9 million budget, NextGen 911 and radio upgrades

Residents say convention parking has become a safety nuisance; council and police promise quicker enforcement

St. Charles County council hears consultant recap, emphasizes collaborative work sessions and rural preservation

Council approves two ordinances; consent agenda passes after facilities item pulled