Greenbrier County Commission to hold public meeting on proposed amendments to E911 ordinance
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 9:00 a.m., the County Commission of Greenbrier County, West Virginia will conduct a public meeting and receive public comments on a proposed Amended E911 Ordinance.
The existing 911 Ordinance, adopted in 1995, established standards for the county 911 emergency system and imposed fees of $2.00 per month on telephone wireline customers in the county. In order to preserve the integrity of service to county residents, the county has undertaken to upgrade the E911 system with the latest technology available. Since E911 fees have not increased in the county since 1995, they are now insufficient to fund necessary technology upgrades to the E911 system. It is proposed that fees be increased as follows: residential customers from $2.00 to $4.50; business from $2.00 to $8.00; PBX lines from $2.00 to $8.00; and Centrex lines from $2.00 to $8.00. The Proposed Amended Ordinance may be examined at the Greenbrier County Courthouse or online at www.greenbriercounty.net.
Public comments may be made during the meeting on March 25, 2025 or may be submitted in writing and mailed or delivered to: Greenbrier County Commission, 912 Court Street N, Lewisburg, WV 24901. Written comments must be received prior to March 25, 2025.
Proposed Ordinance:
PROPOSED AMENDED ENHANCED 911 ORDINANCE
OF GREENBRIER COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENCE
OF AN ENHANCED EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, AND FOR THE IMPOSITION OF A FEE FOR THE COSTS OF INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES TO SUCH SYSTEM
WHEREAS, West Virginia Code §7-1-3cc authorizes County Commissions in the State of West Virginia to establish an enhanced emergency telephone system and to impose a fee upon telecommunications providers for the purpose of establishing and maintaining enhanced 911 systems; and
WHEREAS, on May 9, 1995, the County Commission of Greenbrier County, West Virginia (the “County Commission”) established an enhanced emergency telephone system and imposed a fee for the allowed costs of establishing the enhanced emergency telephone system in accordance with West Virginia Code §§7-1-3cc and 24-6-1; and
WHEREAS, West Virginia Code §26-6-6 authorizes amendment of the establishment of an enhanced emergency services telephone system with the same public notice and meeting requirements to establish such a system; and
WHEREAS, on December 8, 1998, the County Commission amended sections 3(b) and 6(d) of said ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the County Commission finds it necessary and therefore desires to amend the Ordinance establishing the enhanced emergency services telephone system and subsequent amendment thereto; and
NOW, THEREFORE, be it Ordained by the County Commission as follows: The 911 Ordinance passed on May 9, 1995, and as amended on December 8, 1998, is hereby repealed and replaced with the following Ordinance:
Section 1 – Definitions.
As used in this Ordinance, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning: a. “Answering point” means a facility to which enhanced emergency telephone system and (text) calls for a county are initially routed for response, and where county personnel respond to specific requests for emergency service by directly dispatching the appropriate emergency service provider, relaying a message to the appropriate provider or transferring the call to the appropriate provider.
b. “County Commission” means the County Commission of Greenbrier County, West Viginia.
c. “County” means Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
d. “Emergency service provider” means any emergency services organization or public safety unit located in the County.
e. “Enhanced emergency telephone system” means a telephone system which automatically connects the person dialing the primary emergency number to the county answering point and in which the telephone network system automatically provides to personnel receiving the call, immediately upon answering the call, information on the location and the
telephone number from which the call is being made, and upon direction from personnel receiving the call routes or dispatches such call by telephone, radio or any other appropriate means of communication to the emergency service providers that serve the location from which the call is made, and shall include Next Generation 911 system attributes.
f. “Local exchange service line” means a telephone line, including voice over internet protocol or VoIP, provided by a communications or telecommunications company pursuant to its Local Exchange Service Tariff, Public Service Commission of West Virginia or otherwise for which it issues a bill to a customer or customers. Local exchange service line shall include the following:
i. Centrex service;
ii. PBX phone systems, or Private Branch Exchange systems, on-premises or cloud based communication systems that handle internal and external calls within an organization.
iii. Residential service; and
iv. Business Service.
g. “Telecommunications provider” means any provider of telecommunications or communications services to the public under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.
Section 2. Territory included in system:
All territory in the County, including every municipal corporation in the County.
Section 3. County answering point.
a. The County answering point shall be operated continuously and shall provide full service, including access for the hearing impaired, 24 hours per day.
b. The entire County shall be served by one permanent answering point located at 173 Arbuckle Lane, Maxwelton, WV 24957.
c. The answering point shall respond to calls by transferring a call to or directly dispatching an emergency service provider the answering point deems to be necessary according to accepted practice and policy.
d. The county answering point shall be connected to each telecommunications provider’s network by dedicated automatic number identification trunks.
Section 4 – Emergency Service Providers.
a. Every emergency service provider within the County shall participate in the enhanced emergency telephone system.
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b. Each emergency service provider shall maintain a publicly accessible 10-digit telephone number, which shall be appropriately listed in the appropriate telephone directories in addition to any telephone numbers provided through the enhanced emergency telephone system.
Section 5 – Permissible Revenue Uses.
a. In accordance with West Virginia Code §7-1-3cc(b), the revenues generated by the fees imposed by this Ordinance shall be used solely and directly for the capital, installation, administration, operation and maintenance costs of the enhanced emergency telephone system; costs associated with the conversion of existing, establishment of new and maintenance of 911 addressing and mapping in the County; reasonable costs associated with the establishing, equipping, furnishing, operating and maintaining the County answering point; costs associated with billing an collection charges associated with the Enhanced 911 Fee; and as otherwise allowed by law.
b. In the event that the revenues generated by the fees imposed by this Ordinance are not sufficient to cover the costs associated with establishing and maintaining the County enhanced emergency telephone system, the Commission shall pay for such costs from general revenues, grants received, or any other source deemed appropriate and necessary by the Commission.
Section 6 – Imposition of Fees.
a. Upon the first day of the month following the effective date of this Ordinance, and in accordance with the provisions of West Virginia Code §7-1-3cc, the following fees shall be imposed as follows:
i. Each business line shall be charged $8.00 per month;
ii. Each Centrex line shall be charged $8.00 per month;
iii. Each PBX line shall be charged $8.00 per month; and
iv. Each residential line shall be charged $4.50 per month.
b. All revenues from the fees imposed by this Ordinance shall be placed in a dedicated Enhanced 911 Fund account.
Section 7 – General Provisions.
a. This Ordinance may be amended by the County Commission in accordance with West Virginia Code §26-6-6, unless otherwise provided for by the West Virginia Code. b. Upon adoption of this Ordinance and upon any amendment thereto, the County Commission shall provide a copy of the Ordinance and plan to the Public Service Commission of West Virginia and shall be recorded in the records of the Clerk of the Greenbrier County Commission.
c. All fees required to be collected under this ordinance shall be remitted to: Greenbrier County Sheriff, Deputy Tax Clerk, PO Box 347, Lewisburg, WV 24901.
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Section 8 – Adoption.
a. At least 30 but not more than 60 days before the public meeting to consider input regarding the proposed Amended Ordinance, publication of the Proposed Amended Ordinance was made on __________________________ (date) in the ___________________________________ (publication), a publication with general circulation in the County.
b. Copies of the proposed ordinance were made available at the following location(s): The Greenbrier County Courthouse, 912 Court St N., Lewisburg, WV 24901. www.greenbriercounty.net
c. The County Commission held a public meeting to explain the enhanced 911 system and receive comments from other public officials and interested persons on March 25, 2025. d. The Amended Ordinance was adopted at a meeting of the County Commission on the _______ day of ______________, 2025.
