Joint communications?

Regarding “Emmett: Merge key services” (Page A1, Friday), I am 100 percent in agreement with Harris County Judge Ed Emmett’s idea of merging some county-city functions. I even have an example of where they could start.

Recently I was on Louetta Road in Northwest Houston and wanted to report a signal light that was out on Champions Forest Drive and Louetta. I did know that this was in unincorporated Harris County, but I didn’t know the number to call to report it out. So, I called 311, which belongs to the city of Houston. After several rings an operator did pick up, and she informed me that I had to dial a phone number myself. I asked why can’t my message just be transferred to Harris County and was told that they “didn’t do that.”

My question is: Why not? Why shouldn’t there be some merger of communication between these agencies? I did remember the 311 line because that has got a lot of publicity.

So, wanting to be a good citizen, I then called the number I was given, but it was no help. The person was away from their desk, and I was asked to leave a message. I left the message. Don’t know if it ever was fixed.

Surely in 2014 in a city the size of Houston and a county the size of Harris County, there’s got to be a better way to help the citizens and both government entities.

Joan P. Camenson, Cypress