Kenton Co. leaders to vote on plan for utility bill surcharge to pay for 911 services

INDEPENDENCE, Ky. - The Kenton County Fiscal Court is expected to take a controversial vote later this month regarding how county residents pay for 911 services.

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 a utility bill surcharge is the best idea for a fair distribution of the financial burden.

"That way we could charge everyone $6 per month and we could remove the bill that your currently paying so that there is minimal increase," said Arlinghaus.

Duke Energy said it will do what it must to stop Kenton County leaders 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.

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

The vote is expected to take place on July 24 at 7 p.m.

Stay with 9 News and KyPost.com for updates as they become available.