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Lansing city leaders concerned about apparent problems with Ingham County's 911 system

Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio

The Lansing City Council received a report last night looking at serious problems with Ingham County’s 911 system.

The new 911 center opened last summer. It dispatches fire and EMS crews for Lansing and East Lansing, as well as Ingham County.

But the system has trouble pinpointing mobile phone calls, and that’s led to dispatching mistakes and slow response times. A new report suggests three deaths may be connected to problems with the 911 system.

“First responders have to have a system that they can rely on,” says Carol Wood, who chairs the Lansing city council’s public safety committee.   She adds, “Taxpayers, that are making those payments, need to know that system is working.”

A task force is expected to make recommendations for fixing the system by the end of the month.

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.