The Burleigh County Commission approved a resolution for a June 12, 2018 ballot measure to request an increase to the Burleigh County 9-1-1 fee from $1.00 per month to $1.50 per month per assessed communications service. The requested increase of $.50 is for the purpose of purchasing, leasing, or constructing and operating a new public safety communications facility for the County.
The 9-1-1 fee in Burleigh County has been $1.00 since 1994. The current funding is used to maintain and operate the Central Dakota Communications Center (CenCom) 9-1-1 system and related systems to effectively coordinate the dispatching of four law enforcement agencies, eight fire departments, six ambulance agencies and several other governmental services. CenCom responds to 9-1-1 calls, non emergency calls, fire and security alarms, and many other services that citizens use to seek public safety assistance.
CenCom is a partnership between the City of Bismarck, City of Mandan and Burleigh County established in 2016. The current facility housed the Bismarck/Burleigh Combined Communications Center since 2003 with Mandan joining the operation in 2016. Growth in calls-for-service and public safety activities has required increased personnel on-duty and corresponding workstations to respond to those calls for service; the current facility does not allow for additional growth.
The Bismarck City Commission, Mandan City Commission and Burleigh County Commission have individually endorsed this initiative to help solve a critical community need for years to come.