New 400-Foot Radio Tower to Improve Emergency Communications Across Jasper County

JOPLIN, Mo. — Joplin 911 and Jasper County Emergency Services (JASCO) will celebrate the completion of a new 400-foot communications tower designed to improve public safety communications and coordination among emergency responders throughout Jasper County.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Belle Center Communications Tower, located at Belle Center and Black Cat roads in northwest Joplin, is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 29, at 10 a.m. Representatives from JASCO and the City of Joplin will discuss the project and its role in strengthening communication among law enforcement, fire departments, ambulance services and 911 dispatchers.

"The partnership between the City of Joplin and JASCO and the subsequent construction of this tower means that citizens of Joplin and all Jasper County residents will be better served in terms of public safety," Joplin City Manager Nick Edwards said. "It is a win for all of us to see this collaboration reach such an important milestone."

The Belle Center tower is the fifth communications tower added 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 are located in Carthage, Sarcoxie, along north Highway 43 and at the JASCO 911 center on Interstate 49.

The radio network is part of a long-term investment in emergency communications funded through the voter-approved Jasper County 911 sales tax. The funding supports the development of communications infrastructure, including towers and equipment needed to connect emergency responders throughout the county.

"The voters of Jasper County made this project possible when they approved funding for a countywide public safety radio system," said Alvin Peavler, chairman of the Jasper County Emergency Services Board of Directors. "This tower is another important step in building a reliable communications network for our first responders."

The tower also connects to the Missouri Statewide Interoperability Network, known as 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.

"This tower is another important piece of our countywide radio system," said Brandon McClintock, executive director of JASCO. "It's about bringing Joplin and Jasper County agencies together and making sure our first responders can communicate when it matters most."

Improved interoperability could be particularly important during large-scale emergencies, such as tornadoes, when responders from multiple cities and counties may need to work together. Agencies must have a properly programmed and authorized P25 digital radio to communicate on the system. Project 25, or P25, is a national public safety radio standard that allows compatible communications equipment to work across agencies.

The $767,390 tower was constructed on land owned by the City of Joplin and funded through the Jasper County 911 sales tax. Voters approved an increase in the tax in 2021, raising it from 0.10% to 0.25% to support 911 infrastructure, a countywide public safety radio system and emergency dispatch services.

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 expected to be completed 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 law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. The new tower is intended to strengthen the communications infrastructure supporting those agencies and improve their ability to work together during emergencies.