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County weighs East Grand Forks dispatch site, equipment and use of public-safety grants
Summary
Commissioners discussed equipping an East Grand Forks dispatch room, potential staffing benefits and using part of a roughly $602,000 public-safety grant to offset levy pressure; staff flagged equipment and building costs and said only half the grant would be used to reduce the levy this cycle.
Discussion of public-safety funding focused on the East Grand Forks dispatch room, equipment needs and how an available grant might be applied.
Unidentified Speaker 3 described ongoing difficulties getting the East Grand Forks dispatch site fully operational and noted the need for backup generation and console equipment. He said some of the quoted $5,000 roof/heritage number and other equipment lines remain in flux while staff confirm building and equipment costs.
On grant funds, Unidentified Speaker 3 said the county has about $602,000 in public-safety grant money that "has just sat there," and that staff proposed using half of it to offset the levy now and keeping the remainder for 2026 needs: "I used only half to offset the levy, offset the expenses in that budget. If we need we'll have another $300,000. We'll use that for 2026." The speaker said most of the immediate cost to make East Grand Forks permanent would be equipment (consoles) rather than building work.
Commissioners and staff also discussed whether making East Grand Forks a permanent dispatch location would aid hiring and winter operations because more potential employees live in that area. No final decision was taken; staff were asked to confirm equipment and building cost estimates and return with refined numbers.
