County will get 311 service for residents

A new three-digit phone service will soon be coming to Columbia County.

But unlike 911, the 311 service will be for non life-threatening cases, such as a sewer overflow or just a general county information question.

``We don't want to confuse it at all (with 911),'' said Columbia County Emergency Services Director Pam Tucker. ``It's going to get help for those general service issues that people have quicker, and it will also relieve dispatchers of non life-threatening calls.''

The service could be initiated within the next couple of months. Tucker said it would be operated through the county's customer service and information center, which is inside the county's Emergency Management Agency building.

Currently, the number for the customer service and information center is 868-3375.

After the 311 change occurs, Tucker said, residents will simply need to dial 311. However, she said the seven-digit number will still be active.

Tucker said details are still being tweaked on the service before it will be started, including how people will dial the number using a cell phone.

She said another key will probably have to be dialed along with 311 from a cell phone.

Tucker said the 311 option will be unique to the Augusta area, with only a couple of other cities in the state offering the general cases service.