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CITY (NewsDakota.com) Barnes County is in the process of taking back control of the dispatch emergency services system under contract with the city since 1990. Right now dispatchers are employed under the city.

Commissioner Eldred Knutson says under state century code the county is to be the governing authority over Emergency Service Communication Systems or 911.

He says an Advisory Committee is also looking at the best option available to pay for upgrading Emergency Services equipment. Knutson says the cost to upgrade is estimated at $175,000.

He also says one option is to have state radio handle the dispatch work, join a multi-county system or keep everything the way it is.   

Knutson says the advisory committee is also looking to update the contract with 911 dispatch workers. He says one option could be transfer some employees to the county.

911 coordinator Andrea Suhr says, “I know the county is looking at the financial aspect of the cost associated with upgrading the system. But she says we hope that they choose the best option without hurting the quality of services now enjoyed by the county.”
Suhr says, “Most of the dispatchers do not favor a transfer to the county due to their existing benefits package.”

Knutson says all these options are in the proposal stage and no changes will be made without county and city approval.

Emergency Manager Kim Franklin says, “We are in the fact finding stage gathering as much information as we can to reach a decision.”

Knutson says the county elected to retain its role as the governing authority of Emergency Services during a regular county meeting last August. They set up 12 member advisory committee to oversee the budget, respond to complaints and make recommendations to the county board.

The 12 member board has one member from Mercy Hospital, the city, the county, city fire & rescue, 2 members from the rural fire department, ambulance services, a member from the sheriff & police departments, one from quick responders, Emergency Manager Kim Franklin and 911 coordinator Andrea Suhr.

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