In 1988, an election was held and voters approved an ordinance to implement 9-1-1 emergency telephone service within Benton County to be funded by a charge of up to five (5) percent of the basic telephone tariff approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission and to be administered by an administrative Board established pursuant to Act 742 of 1977, as amended.

County Ordinance 88-5 was approved creating a County Administrative Board to be known as the “9-1-1 Administrative Board”, the Board consists of five (5) members with staggered 5 year terms. Board members are one full-time fire chief or deputy chief, one full-time police chief or chief deputy or the sheriff or his chief deputy and three members at-large.

The 9-1-1 Administrative Board is empowered and authorized to administer and manage the 9-1-1 service in Benton County, including but not limited to such duties as:

• Expending funds generated by the 9-1-1 service charge and appropriated by the Quorum Court
• Developing a countywide addressing and mapping system including emergency service boundaries in conjunction with 9-1-1 requirements
• Establishing uniform standard operating procedures to be used at Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP)
• Developing training programs and procedures for all dispatchers
• Recommending staffing requirements for PSAPs
• Reporting annually to the Quorum Court
• Other actions and business consistent with the law, as necessary to carry out the purposes of the ordinance