Seneca County Approves E-911 Split From Sheriff’s Dept.

The first steps in creating an independent E-911 center were approved by the Seneca County Board of Supervisors Tuesday night. Supervisors, voting to endorse the Advisory panel’s recommendation to create an emergency call center separate from the Sheriff’s Department, also agreed that details of the plan would have to be approved by the Supervisors. Supervisors Dale Smith and Barry O’Neill raised concerns that the Supervisors were approving the plan without seeing details addressed. The county would also have to pass a local law to implement the proposed changes. Board Chairman Robert Shipley voted against the endorsement of the recommendations, saying the current system is working effectively. In other news:Seneca County Supervisors reached a settlement to repair a bridge in Ovid that was struck and damaged. The bridge, on County Road 153, sustained nearly 18 thousand dollars of damage. Progressive Insurance has agreed to pay that sum. The money will go to pay for the repairs, which will be made by DePalma Masonry of Auburn. More purchases for the new Seneca County Jail were approved Tuesday evening. Nearly 55 thousand dollars was approved by Supervisors to purchase computers for the new Correctional facility. Board Chairman Robert Shipley voted against approving the funds. He feels the computers being used at the current county jail should be used instead. County Manager Sharon Secor says those computers are outdated. Old desktop computers will be used though, as backups at the new jail in the event that a new unit fails. Older lap top computers will be used in other county facilities.