EMERGENCY 9-1-1Our History
The Blount County Communications Center (9-1-1) was formed in 1983 by Blount County and the cities of Maryville and Alcoa. Dispatching for law enforcement and fire agencies in Blount County became consolidated at that time. Initially the Communications Center was located at the Maryville Police Department, located in the old Municipal Building on West Broadway in downtown Maryville. At this time the Communications Center had three lines dedicated to receiving 9-1-1 calls. On no voice, or 9-1-1 hang up calls, the number the call was made from could be called back by pushing the receiver back down. No other resources pertaining to the address, location, callback number or resident name were available. In a referendum vote in August of 1986, Blount County citizens voted overwhelmingly to obtain enhanced 9-1-1 service, which would include ANI/ALI information for each 9-1-1 call received. The Blount Communications Center went online with enhanced 9-1-1 in February 1990 at it's current location on Louisville Road in Alcoa. When it was formed in 1983, the communications Center employed seven dispatchers and a Director. The center now employees over twenty five people, who perform various tasks within the organization. In addition to receiving and dispatching emergency and non-emergency calls for the entire county the Communications Center is responsible for assigning addresses and street names as well.
