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County staff to present options for shifting 9‑1‑1 operations to county employees
Summary
County staff told the board they are developing a plan to consider making 9‑1‑1 dispatch employees county employees and will brief supervisors on legal and administrative options after consulting state agencies and other counties.
A county staff member told the Board of Supervisors on July 15 that the auditor’s office asked the county administration to research a path forward for possible changes to the 9‑1‑1 board structure and employment model.
The staff member said the team is assembling a plan that would include making dispatch employees county employees and that the county is consulting peers in other counties, Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) staff and the attorney general’s office for legal and administrative guidance. The staff member said they had talked with the county auditor’s office and the department of management and expected a more complete answer later in the week.
No formal action was taken; the staff member said they would bring a briefing and suggested a work session so supervisors could evaluate options and next steps.
Why this matters: changing the employment model for 9‑1‑1 dispatch shifts costs, liabilities and management responsibilities to the county and typically requires legal review and coordination with state guidance. The staff member said multiple options are under consideration and the county has been in contact with jurisdictions that have already made similar changes.
Next steps: staff said they will return with additional information, coordinate a work session and present recommended options for board consideration.
