Welcome to Kerr Emergency 911 Network
Everything You Wanted to Know about Kerr Emergency 9-1-1 Network
History
In May 1987 the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 911 to ensure all 18.5 million Texas' citizens would have access to 9-1-1 emergency telephone service. From anywhere in the state, dialing the digits "9" "1" "1" would allow callers to reach local emergency services quickly.
The Legislature eventually identified three ways to facilitate the implementation of 9-1-1 throughout the state by establishing:
1. Emergency Communication Districts
2. Regional Council of Governments
3. "Home-rule" cities
In a November 1987 general referendum, the citizens of Kerr County created Kerr Emergency 9-1-1 Network, which is an emergency communications district. The district is a quasi-governmental entity separate and distinct from city, county and state governments. Our 9-1-1 jurisdiction includes Kerrville, Ingram, all of rural Kerr County and part of Gillespie County.
By law, every three years Kerr Emergency 9-1-1 hold a public review hearing on the continuation of the district and to discuss/establish the 9-1-1 emergency service fee. The last continuation hearing was held February 2005.
Our primary objectives
The purpose of the 9-1-1 system is to deliver emergency telephone calls directly to the appropriate public safety dispatch center.
Therefore, we are not, nor do we have functional/administrative authority or control over the Telephone Companies, US Post Office, emergency dispatch centers, EMS, fire departments or law enforcement agencies.
Our job is to:
1. make sure your call terminates correctly at the public safety
answering point
2. make sure 9-1-1 call takers' procedures are consistent with the health and safety code
3. make sure the right information is displayed on 9-1-1 call-takers' workstations (phone number and location)
4. train public safety personnel on how to use the 9-1-1 equipment
5. educate the public in when and how to use 9-1-1
6. coordinate Kerr County and the City of Ingram physical addressing
Authority
We are primarily governed by Subchapter D of Chapter 772 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. We spend a lot of time making sure our district complies with federal, state and local regulations.
How we're funded
There are 47,000+ citizens in the Kerr Emergency 9-1-1 Network's jurisdiction and 33,000+ telephone access exchange lines. The monthly service fee for wire line telephone subscribers is 5.25 percent of the telephone base service rate. This amounts to $0.36 per month for residential subscribers and $0.92 per month for businesses. As of September 1, 1997, by state law, all wireless telephone subscribers in Texas pay a flat rate of $.50 per month. The service fees are used to; contract with local & wireless communications companies for their part of 9-1-1 interconnectivity, create and maintain the 9-1-1 dispatch/public safety answering point computer equipment, and public education/training.
Board of Managers
William Price , City of Kerrville Representative
Tom Klaerner , City of Ingram Representative
Hugh R. Jons, Jr. , Kerr County Representative
Ron Vick , Kerr County Representative
Mike Lannan , Kerr Volunteer Fire Departments’ Representative
William Russell Henderson , Incumbent Phone Company
Members are appointed for two-year terms:
- two members by Kerr County
- one member by the City of Kerrville
- one member by the City of Ingram
- one member by the Kerr County Volunteer Fire Departments
- one member by Incumbent Phone Company (non-voting)
Public Meetings
Public meetings of the Kerr Emergency 9-1-1 Network Board of Managers are held quarterly in the Conference Room, Kerr 9-1-1 Administration Building, 819 Water Street, Kerrville. Meetings are using scheduled on Thursdays and begin at 1:00 PM. These meetings are open to the public.
The agenda is on the front door of our facility and at the Court House 72 hours prior to the meeting. Specific meeting dates are available on the “Meetings” tab of the WEB site.
Please confirm meeting schedules with our office staff at 792-5911.
Office Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00 – 11:00 a.m.
12:00 – 5:00 p.m.