Mass communication system on city wish list

Officials with the city of Fort Smith are interested in purchasing an electronic means of mass communication that would effectively reach citizens in emergencies or other important events.

Fort Smith fire, police, sanitation and utilities department heads are requesting the city buy a “Connect-CTY” system from Sherman Oaks, Calif.-based Blackboard Connect Inc. The system would cost about $95,000 a year and could deliver messages to Fort Smith citizens within minutes by phone, e-mail or mobile phone.

“The City of Fort Smith has no method of providing effective and timely mass emergency or public information to our citizens. We would have to rely on the news media and/or go door-to-door to deliver critical information in the event we needed to order an evacuation or provide emergency information to a specific area or group,” according to a memo from Mike Richards, assistant Fort Smith fire chief, to City Administrator Dennis Kelly.

As examples of communication using Connect-CTY, the fire department could alert citizens to industrial accidents involving hazardous materials, the police could inform citizens of missing persons, and a water main break or boil order notification could be sent out within minutes by the utilities department.

Purchasing the system is on the agenda for the Dec. 16 Fort Smith board of directors meeting.