Gogebic County approves $2.50 911 surcharge and new Dickinson County dispatch contract
March 11, 2026 | Gogebic County, Michigan
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Chairman Dan Siirila and the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners voted March 11 to adopt several measures affecting local emergency communications and funding.
Heidi DeRosso, the county’s Emergency Management/911 Coordinator, asked the board to authorize signature on the FY25 Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) agreement; commissioners approved the chairman’s signature. The board was told those grant funds will be allocated to the Emergency Management Manager’s salary and fringe benefits.
DeRosso also requested that the board send a letter of support for Michigan Senate Bill 109, which would increase public infrastructure repair funding available through the state’s Disaster Emergency Contingency Fund. She asked commissioners to request an additional revision removing a proposed 10% cap in the current bill draft, saying removal would provide a more realistic financial backstop when disasters occur. The board voted to send a letter of support (motion by Commissioner Lorenson, support by Commissioner Matonich).
On local funding, the board adopted a $2.50 monthly 911 surcharge for Gogebic County, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027 (motion by Commissioner Peterson, support by Commissioner Yon; unanimous voice vote). The surcharge will be collected at the county level to support 911 operations as described in the staff presentation.
The board also approved the 911 Committee’s recommendation to contract with Dickinson County Central Dispatch for 911 dispatching services beginning Oct. 1, 2026. Commissioners approved a three-year agreement with optional performance-based extensions for years four and five; the contract vote passed on a roll call: Cayer, Lorenson, Matonich, Yon, Peterson and Siirila voted yes, with Commissioner Wood absent.
What happens next: the chairman is authorized to execute the EMPG grant agreement; the county will implement the $2.50 surcharge on the stated schedule; and staff will begin the transition to Dickinson County Central Dispatch for dispatching services on Oct. 1, 2026, per the approved contract terms.
Provenance: The topics above were introduced in the board appearance by Heidi DeRosso and related motions recorded in SEG 001–SEG 002.
Heidi DeRosso, the county’s Emergency Management/911 Coordinator, asked the board to authorize signature on the FY25 Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) agreement; commissioners approved the chairman’s signature. The board was told those grant funds will be allocated to the Emergency Management Manager’s salary and fringe benefits.
DeRosso also requested that the board send a letter of support for Michigan Senate Bill 109, which would increase public infrastructure repair funding available through the state’s Disaster Emergency Contingency Fund. She asked commissioners to request an additional revision removing a proposed 10% cap in the current bill draft, saying removal would provide a more realistic financial backstop when disasters occur. The board voted to send a letter of support (motion by Commissioner Lorenson, support by Commissioner Matonich).
On local funding, the board adopted a $2.50 monthly 911 surcharge for Gogebic County, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027 (motion by Commissioner Peterson, support by Commissioner Yon; unanimous voice vote). The surcharge will be collected at the county level to support 911 operations as described in the staff presentation.
The board also approved the 911 Committee’s recommendation to contract with Dickinson County Central Dispatch for 911 dispatching services beginning Oct. 1, 2026. Commissioners approved a three-year agreement with optional performance-based extensions for years four and five; the contract vote passed on a roll call: Cayer, Lorenson, Matonich, Yon, Peterson and Siirila voted yes, with Commissioner Wood absent.
What happens next: the chairman is authorized to execute the EMPG grant agreement; the county will implement the $2.50 surcharge on the stated schedule; and staff will begin the transition to Dickinson County Central Dispatch for dispatching services on Oct. 1, 2026, per the approved contract terms.
Provenance: The topics above were introduced in the board appearance by Heidi DeRosso and related motions recorded in SEG 001–SEG 002.
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