Culbertson weighs options for sheriff emergency line; appoints 911 coordinator amid transition plans

Culbertson officials repeatedly considered the future of the local sheriff emergency phone line during 1988, weighing community preference against operating costs and a longer-term 911 rollout.

Rick Kessner presented petitions and arguments in favor of retaining the 6654 sheriff's number. The council initially voted to postpone cancellation while staff checked availability, then later approved a switch to a shared 1-800 number after cost estimates indicated it was less expensive to maintain a trunked 1-800 line than the older 6654 arrangement.

At the first meeting of the year the council appointed Edwin Bertino as the town's 911 coordinator after a motion by Larry Reitz; recorded votes noted three members in favor and Bertino opposed. Dan Seitsema, Roosevelt County DES Coordinator, later briefed the council that establishing countywide 911 service would likely take at least two years, information that the council factored into interim decisions on phone-service options.

Council also authorized temporary measures such as running an extension from the city office to the sheriff’s dispatch for a trial period while the town coordinated with neighboring Bainville and Froid on unified emergency numbers and cost sharing arrangements.