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Kossuth County discusses dispatch funding, ambulance cost sharing with Algona
Summary
County staff and supervisors discussed Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) funding, an outdated intergovernmental agreement with the city of Algona and how ambulance call costs are shared; staff said the county currently operates without a legal agreement with the city for dispatch services.
Kossuth County supervisors and staff discussed funding for the county’s dispatch center and cost sharing with the city of Algona during a budget workshop, and staff said the county is operating without a formal legal agreement with the city for dispatch services.
County staff described the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), commonly called the dispatch center, and said many Iowa counties pay 100% of dispatch costs while others split costs with cities. A county staff member said, “we are operating with no legal agreement and have been for a while with the city” for the dispatch center.
The conversation included ambulance call costs and how the city’s contribution is applied. A county staff member said the ambulance cost is accounted for separately from the dispatch budget and that the city would “pick up the slack.” The transcript records a total figure referenced as “60,000” and a stated city portion described as “13% of that, and that is 59,500.” The numerical statements in the transcript are not internally consistent (13% of $60,000 would be $7,800); the transcript does not clarify the intended arithmetic or units.
Staff identified the legal framework used to document intergovernmental contracts as a “20 AD” code section and said that language provides a vehicle for formalizing agreements with other entities. The county indicated it has discussed changing the percentage breakdown of who pays for dispatch and the costs associated with actual calls, and staff said talks with the city of Algona on those percentages have occurred.
County staff described Kossuth County as one of the few Iowa counties with a split PSAP model. The staff member said there are about 111 PSAPs in Iowa and that many are run by county sheriffs or the state patrol; the county’s arrangement with Algona for call handling and call taking is currently shared.
A presiding official said there may be movement on renegotiating the intergovernmental arrangement but cautioned it could take time. “It might take some time, but there will be some movement on that,” the presiding official said. Staff did not record a formal decision or vote on changing the agreement during the session.
Ending: Staff were to continue discussions with the city of Algona about percentages and charges for dispatch and ambulance calls; no final agreement or budget action was recorded in the transcript.
