The Winnebago County Board approved an intergovernmental agreement to participate in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) and welcomed Slade Berry as the county’s emergency services director at the July 24 meeting.

Mr. Booker moved the resolution authorizing execution of the MABAS intergovernmental agreement (master agreement 2022); he said the item was budgeted at “dollars 2,500” and explained the county sheriff’s office recently assumed responsibility for dispatching multiple fire agencies. “As part of this expanded role, it is essential to ensure effective coordination and communication during emergency incidents that require mutual aid across jurisdictional boundaries,” Booker said.

Booker introduced Slade Berry, and the board briefly welcomed him. Berry said, “No. If you hit it on the head, it's just access to a myriad of resources that that the, all the company needs to” when asked to describe MABAS access (quote transcribed verbatim).

The resolution was presented, reviewed by the state’s attorney’s office per the transcript, and approved by voice vote with members casting “yes for all members present.”

Why it matters: Participation in MABAS formally connects county emergency dispatch and response to a regional mutual-aid network, which can be a critical resource for large or multi-jurisdictional incidents. The action accompanies a staffing announcement for the county’s emergency services leadership.

Next steps: County officials will execute the intergovernmental agreement and integrate MABAS procedures into dispatch and interagency response planning. The transcript records approval and a budgeted amount of $2,500 for the item.