Agreement Reached on New, Expanded 911 Communications Center

The Dubuque County Board of Supervisors and the Dubuque County 911 Service Board approved an agreement to operate and fund a new, expanded 911 communications center with the city of Dubuque at a joint meeting Wednesday. The agreement marks the completion of a decade-plus debate over how to accomplish a needed relocation and expansion of the countywide emergency dispatch center between the partners involved — the city of Dubuque, Dubuque County and the 911 Service Board of public safety and emergency service organizations across the county. The 911 Service Board’s present members, representing more than 20 separate agencies, were unanimous in supporting the agreement. The Board of Supervisors voted, 2-1, for the agreement — Supervisors Ann McDonough and Harley Pothoff in favor, Supervisor Wayne Kenniker against. The agreement would move the 911 dispatch center from its current location at the Dubuque Law Enforcement Center in downtown Dubuque to a building currently owned by nonprofit Dubuque Initiatives on Chavenelle Road.