Brewing battle over 911 funding in Kenton County

COVINGTON, Ky. - Duke Energy says it will do what it must to stop the Kenton County Fiscal Court from forcing Duke to put a 911 surcharge on the bills of Kenton County rate payers.

"This is certainly something that we're prepared to explore all avenues at our disposal to try to make sure that this does not happen," said Blair Schroeder a Duke spokesman.

Paying for 911 services is becoming harder to do and the county says it needs to find a solution.

Kenton County faces a growing problem in which land-line phone users are turning to mobile phones at the rate of about 3-4 percent per year.

Traditional land-based phone customers in Kenton County pay a few dollars per month to fund one of the county's three dispatch centers.

Cellphone customers pay only a few cents comparatively and Kenton County Judge Executive Steve Arlinghaus believes the utility bill surcharge is the best idea for a fair distribution of the financial burden.

"That way we could charge everyone six dollars per month and we could remove the bill that your currently paying so that there is minimal increase," said Arlinghaus.

Schroeder says Duke shouldn't be forced to collect the fees for a county agency.

A second reading and vote is scheduled for the next Fiscal Court meeting next Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the courthouse in Independence.