Gage County approves five-year enhanced 911 agreement with Beatrice; supervisors add request to re-discuss before automatic renewal

The Gage County Board of Supervisors approved a five-year agreement Wednesday with the City of Beatrice for enhanced 911 services, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. The first-year county contribution in the agreement is $245,009.77, with a 2.5% escalation each year thereafter.

County officials said the enhanced 911 center in Beatrice provides dispatch, advanced 911 technology and record-keeping services used by county law enforcement, rural fire and rescue agencies, and other emergency responders. Supervisors described service quality as good and said the city and county negotiated terms over multiple iterations to reach a longer-term agreement that both sides could accept.

Several supervisors expressed concern about the contract’s automatic renewal language. Under the proposed agreement, failure to give notice 90 days before the end of the five-year term could convert the agreement into an additional five-year term. Supervisors asked staff to send a concurrent letter to the city at contract signing to clarify that the county wishes to discuss the contract near the five-year mark; they emphasized that the letter would not automatically cancel service but would request a meeting before renewal.

Supervisor Jurgens moved to approve the contract; Supervisor Dorn seconded. The motion passed on a 6-0 vote. Board members asked the county attorney and clerk’s office to prepare the suggested notice or a separate communication to the city to ensure both parties discuss the agreement before any automatic renewal.