Joplin 911 and Jasper County Emergency Services (JASCO) are preparing to celebrate the completion of a new 400-foot communications tower in northwest Joplin. The structure, named the Belle Center Communications Tower, is designed to improve public safety communications and coordination among emergency responders throughout Jasper County. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 29, at 10 a.m. at Belle Center and Black Cat roads.
Representatives from JASCO and the City of Joplin are expected to discuss the project and its role in strengthening communication among law enforcement, fire departments, ambulance services, and 911 dispatchers. Joplin City Manager Nick Edwards stated that the partnership and tower construction mean citizens and residents across Jasper County "will be better served in terms of public safety."
This Belle Center tower is the fifth addition to Jasper County's countywide public safety radio system and the first completed through a partnership between JASCO and the City of Joplin. The other four towers in the network are located in Carthage, Sarcoxie, along north Highway 43, and at the JASCO 911 center on Interstate 49.
The radio network represents a long-term investment in emergency communications, funded through the voter-approved Jasper County 911 sales tax. This funding supports the development of infrastructure, including towers and equipment needed to connect emergency responders throughout the county. Alvin Peavler, chairman of the Jasper County Emergency Services Board of Directors, emphasized that voters made this project possible when they "approved funding for a countywide public safety radio system."
The tower, costing $767,390, was constructed on land owned by the City of Joplin. It also connects to the Missouri Statewide Interoperability Network (MOSWIN), allowing compatible local, state, and federal agencies to communicate during major emergencies and events. The state will install communications equipment at the site to support regional and statewide operations. Improved interoperability is particularly important during large-scale emergencies, such as tornadoes, when responders from multiple cities and counties may need to work together. Agencies must use a properly programmed and authorized P25 digital radio to communicate on the system, which is a national public safety radio standard.
Brandon McClintock, executive director of JASCO, noted the tower is "another important piece of our countywide radio system." Construction was completed in March, followed by the installation of communications hardware over the summer. Local law enforcement, fire, and emergency services personnel have recently begun testing the system, with final testing anticipated to conclude in late November. The project was completed through a partnership involving JASCO, the City of Joplin, and TUSA, which provided consulting and technical expertise.
JASCO and Joplin 911 serve as the two primary 911 communications centers for Jasper County, handling emergency calls and coordinating responses for various emergency medical and public safety services. The new tower is intended to strengthen the communications infrastructure supporting these agencies and improve their ability to work together during emergencies. Voters approved an increase in the Jasper County 911 sales tax in 2021, raising it from 0.10% to 0.25%, specifically to support 911 infrastructure, a countywide public safety radio system, and emergency dispatch services.
