Those who call 911 for help from police or firefighters now will hear different questions from dispatchers.

Steve Bicehouse, the county emergency services director, received approval from county commissioners at their Wednesday meeting to implement a new police and fire dispatch protocol system.

The system will be used by Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Venango county dispatchers, he said.

“Every dispatcher (from those counties) will answer a call the same way every time,” Bicehouse said.

The $556,000 cost of the new system will be funded through the shared services provision in the state's 911 legislation, he said.

Bicehouse explained that the protocol, which is required by the state, will change the seven questions dispatchers use to determine how to handle an emergency called into the county 911 center.

The protocol is meant to allow dispatchers to quickly find out what happened and most efficiently dispatch police or fire departments.

“It will improve the information we give the emergency responders,” Bicehouse said.

Commissioners also approved a change to the county Communications Council bylaws to add a 911 dispatcher to the board as a non-voting member.

The dispatcher would serve a three-year term on the board.

“We wanted to make sure we had a dispatcher on the council to bring any issues to the council,” Bicehouse said.

Commissioners also approved a reduction of $23,400 in costs related to the new $4 million 911 system being installed in the county.