In August 2011, the Grant County Board of Commissioners recognized the need to create a single, centralized Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Grant County. The goal was to eliminate the need to transfer 911 calls between local public safety agencies, which often required citizens to repeat the reason for their emergency to multiple agencies. By establishing one centralized PSAP, a caller could make one 911 call and have the appropriate emergency services dispatched quickly and effectively.
Over the next several years, discussions regarding the creation of a centralized dispatch center occurred periodically. In 2018, those discussions resumed in earnest. Consultants were hired, plans were developed, and work began to establish what would become Grant County Central Dispatch.
As construction and development progressed, committees met to determine the facility's layout, operational needs, communications infrastructure, and the type of equipment necessary to support a modern 911 center. These efforts ultimately resulted in the creation of a centralized communications center capable of serving the public safety agencies and citizens of Grant County.
Grant County Central Dispatch went live on June 8, 2020, officially bringing centralized 911 communications to Grant County.
Grant County Central Dispatch currently operates with a Director, Deputy Director, 18 full-time dispatchers, and several part-time dispatchers. The center has six dispatch positions and maintains a minimum staffing level of three dispatchers on duty at all times.
Centralizing 911 communications has provided Grant County with a unified system for receiving emergency calls and coordinating the appropriate response. Dispatchers are able to communicate directly with law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies throughout thecounty, allowing emergency resources to be identified and dispatched efficiently.
The creation and continued development of Grant County Central Dispatch represents a significant investment in public safety and ensures that citizens have a single, centralized point of contact when they need emergency assistance.