Cowlitz County 911 Center officials are considering separating from the county to speed up decision making and rid themselves of a widely criticized and cumbersome governing structure.
Members of the 911 E-Board have agreed to hire a consultant to study the 911 center’s governing structure and also consider alternatives: user agencies’ switch to using Clark County’s 911 center (Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency, known as CRESA) or making the 911 agency independent from the county.
Steve Taylor, E-Board vice chairman and Kelso city manager, said the voter-approved 0.1 percent sales tax for 911 services would enable the center to become an independent agency, bringing it out from under the county’s umbrella.