Benton County approves dispatch, law‑enforcement mental‑health liaison agreements with area cities

The Benton County Board of Supervisors approved two related intergovernmental agreements: Resolution 25-57 for law enforcement dispatch services and Resolution 25-58 for a law enforcement mental‑health liaison. The agreements are structured as year‑to‑year 28E contracts with participating cities.

Under the mental‑health liaison agreement, Vinton will pay 15% of the liaison’s base salary; county staff stated the liaison’s base salary is about $74,001. The county said Urbana will not be billed for either program while it does not maintain an active police department and its ORI (originating agency identifier) has been temporarily deactivated. "Urbana does not have an active PD, so we're not going to, currently bill them," a county official said during the meeting.

Why it matters: The dispatch agreement keeps consolidated dispatch functions funded and establishes cost sharing for services tied to public safety; the mental‑health liaison agreement funds a county liaison who will work with local law enforcement and community partners on mental health responses.

Board members approved both resolutions after motions and recorded unanimous aye votes. County staff noted the agreements are annual and the city cost shares will rise if the liaison’s salary or county percentages increase. "These are year to year contracts. So as her rate goes up with the county percentage rate, those annual fees will go up as well," a staff member said.

The agreements also require administrative steps for invoicing and carry provisions for distribution of costs by population or an agreed formula; the county said those calculations were intended to spread cost equitably between participating cities.