Concerns over cost-effectiveness of fire reporting system in York

A fire alert system in York is being questioned and a proposal is on the table to get rid of it. It's called the Gamewell System and it's basically boxes on either buildings or the street that people can pull to send a direct message to fire stations. There are 80 call boxes along the streets and 260 in various buildings. It's been used in the city for over 120 years, but the cost to keep it up to date may soon outgrow the system's effectiveness.

All of the Gameway Sytem's were installed in 1800's and the signal goes directly to all fires stations and it continues to be fastest reporting system even today.
 
Fastest, but perhaps also the costliest. York City Council member Henry Nixon says the system costs about $84,000 a year, money the city recoups by charging businesses $360 a year to be hooked up to it.

It's effectiveness and cost are now subject to a new proposal that would eliminate the system by July 2014. York City's Deputy Fire Chief says it's a great tool and can be faster than a cell phone call, but it needs to work properly to be fully effective.
 
For now, city officials are just gathering more information about the system, a vote to move the proposal ahead won't happen until later this month.
 
A similar system is still in use in Hanover and Harrisburg had their Gameway System removed about 10 years ago.