Supervisors Squabble Over 2-1-1 Service; Approve Contract

SIERRA COUNTY — Following an extended discussion that included several concerns, the Sierra County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a contract with the Nevada-Sierra Connecting Point Public Authority. The agreement will establish a basic 2-1-1 hotline service for the county. The hotline will provide residents and visitors with information during emergencies, though it will offer limited functionality outside of those situations. Upgrades to add more features remain possible in the future.

Supervisor Sharon Dryden (Sierra Brooks) has led the effort to bring 2-1-1 service to Sierra County. Last year, she arranged a presentation to the Board by Connecting Point executives that explained the program’s operation. Connecting Point charges a one-time setup fee of $8,000, which covers securing approval from the California Public Utilities Commission, plus an annual fee of $3,000. During an active emergency when the hotline is in use, the county would pay additional fees of up to $1,400 per day.

Supervisor Lee Adams (Downieville) urged caution before committing to the contract, preferring to seek more community input prior to adding a new ongoing annual expense. “This is a minimal amount of money, but the problem is it’s ongoing forever,” Adams said. He also touched on the fact that the 800-person community of Loyalton is located 40 miles from the thousands of hotel rooms available in Reno, questioning complaints that evacuees during the 2024 Bear Fire had nowhere to go. In a later statement to The Messenger, Adams noted that while some residents have limited resources, “it’s tough for a government this size to provide all services that might be available in a larger community.” He added that the county no longer maintains a proactive animal control service as it had in the past, referencing complaints about the handling of pets during the Bear Fire evacuation.

Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher expressed no opposition to the service but raised doubts about its likely use. “I just don’t know that it’s going to get utilized [...] and it’s going to be a lot of money for what I anticipate [...] is a small amount of phone calls,” he said. Fisher pointed out that those who needed help most during the 2024 Bear Fire received it. He believes the individuals who faced the greatest challenges then will likely face similar difficulties in future emergencies, regardless of additional information resources.

Sheriff Fisher, the Public Health Department, and Supervisor Dryden all stressed the importance of public education for the new service to succeed. “There’ll need to be a large campaign on making sure people are aware of it. It’s not just our locals either, it’s going to be the visiting public,” Fisher said. He suggested distributing flyers at hotels and other locations frequented by visitors.

Supervisor Dryden emphasized that she had heard numerous public requests for a 2-1-1 hotline. She highlighted the critical role of clear information during emergencies. “I’m not going to call 2-1-1, but I’m different because I’m part of the structure here and I’ve evacuated multiple times. So I wouldn’t utilize the service, but I’m bringing it forward because I hear from the community that this is a need,” she said.

Chief Technology Officer Jeremy Miller proposed an alternative: using the county’s existing phone system to create an emergency information line with automated messages. The idea was dismissed, however, due to past problems with county phone line routing and the lack of staff available to keep information up to date.

The contract, which will cost the county at least $11,000 in the first year, passed without opposition. “In the end, I voted yes as I want folks to be helped and be given guidance during emergencies. I do, however, have concerns with a 24/7 2-1-1 service to attempt to solve or answer any issue. There is always a balance between personal responsibility and needing services, and I struggle where that balance should be made. We have finite resources to provide services and trying to decide priorities can be tough,” Supervisor Adams explained.

Implementation of the 2-1-1 service is expected to take six to eight months. Connecting Point must complete the Public Utilities Commission application, arrange call routing with major carriers, and address other technical requirements.