Matteson mayor says tax-funded 911 campaign ‘just educational’

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Matteson Mayor Andre Ashmore

Updated: February 21, 2012 8:30AM

Matteson Mayor Andre Ashmore says a marketing campaign the village is planning for a referendum question seeking an increase in the 911 telephone surcharge will be educational only in nature.

The Matteson Village Board Tuesday gave its nod to a $10,000 contact with the marketing firm of Trungale, Egan & Associates Inc. to conduct a public information campaign for the increase that is up for a vote on the March ballot.

The village is asking residents to raise the 911 surcharge from 85 cents to $2.75 per landline. Matteson is part of SouthCom Dispatch, which also fields 911 calls for Olympia Fields, Richton Park and Park Forest. Each of the four municipalities is asking for an increase in separate referendum questions.

Ashmore said he does not see a conflict of interest using taxpayers’ dollars to conduct a public relations campaign that could potentially increase residents’ fees.

Ashmore said the campaign will be unbiased and only informational.

“The information presented will not be slanted,” he said. “We’re not doing this to sway voters. This is to give them information on 911 services so they can make an educated choice. It’s just education. To make sure of this, the board will review all the information that’s going to be presented in the campaign and make suggestions.”

Ashmore said the Chicago-based firm has done general marketing for the village for a number of years.

Village manager Brian Mitchell said he hopes to launch the campaign before early voting starts Feb. 27.

The $10,000 contract does not include the cost of brochures, flyers, posters and videos. Those costs will be discussed during a special board workshop this month, Mitchell said.