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Madison County to dispatch Highland’s 911 calls under 10‑year agreement; city to pay roughly $299,738 a year
Summary
After reviewing a consultant cost analysis, the Madison County Board approved an intergovernmental agreement to provide 911 and non‑emergency dispatch services to Highland. The city will pay an annual base amount of $299,738 (subject to ETSB credits and annual adjustment); the county gains operational responsibility for Highland calls.
The Madison County Board voted Dec. 15 to contract with the City of Highland for police, fire and EMS dispatch services after reviewing a cost study and negotiated terms.
Under the intergovernmental agreement approved by the board, the county will provide both emergency (911) and non‑emergency dispatch services for Highland under an initial 10‑year term that becomes effective Jan. 1, 2022, with the services to begin no later than March 31, 2022. Highland agreed to pay $299,738 per year, payable quarterly, subject to credits that flow from the Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) reimbursements for 911 calls originating in Highland. The county will review and recalculate call shares annually and may adjust the following year’s amount; the agreement contains opt‑out provisions after the initial 36 months with required notice.
The board’s approval followed extended committee discussion and a presentation of an MGT Consulting Group analysis that estimated county costs based on call volume. The MGT memo calculated Highland’s share at about 17.21% of county call volume and listed a net annual cost to Highland of approximately $260,471 after ETSB reimbursements, with a cost per call estimate of about $20.98. County negotiators and Highland leaders agreed to the $299,738 annual base with the expectation of ETSB credits.
Supporters on the board said the contract modernizes operations and aligns with state consolidation requirements for PSAPs; opponents urged caution about operational liability and urged more detail on staffing and transition. Public Safety Committee chair Gussie Glasper and board members Judy Kuhn and Bobby Ross said they had worked to protect Highland service continuity, while dissenting board members emphasized the need for a clear implementation and staffing plan.
Vote: AYES 22, NAYS 6. The contract requires quarterly payments and sets deadlines for implementation and periodic meetings between city and county dispatch leadership during the first year to monitor the transition.
Next steps: The county dispatch operation will integrate Highland call handling, finalize staffing and training, apply ETSB reimbursements as credits, and begin regular meetings between city and county directors to smooth the transition and review costs.
