County gives official notice on communications center contract

Perkins County commissioners made it official by passing a motion at their March 2 meeting to notify Keith County they would not be renewing the communications center contract. 

The wheels were set in motion for re-opening the county’s communication center following a recent recommendation by a Perkins County grand jury. 

Last month, Sheriff Jim Brueggeman informed the commissioners the grand jury recommended the commissioners appropriate the money to re-open the communications center in the Sheriff’s Office. 

During the Feb. 18 meeting, Brueggeman put forth a proposal that would allow the commissioners to re-open the center without additional cost. He reviewed the costs again at the March 2 meeting.

In 2015, Perkins County closed their communications center and signed a four-year contract with Keith County to handle all emergency and law enforcement radio and phone traffic. 

That contract expired on Jan. 1, 2020 but they have been operating on a six month understanding that ends on July 1, 2020.

Brueggeman told commissioners the timing is right to end their contract with Keith County and bring the operation back in house. 

Brueggeman said this week Keith County has been officially notified. He said his office is moving forward with the necessary preperation to open the county’s comm center on July 1. 

The grand jury was convened early this year to investigate the death of a 55-year-old Illinois man that occurred during a high speed pursuit with a county deputy Aug. 9, 2019. 

Their recommendation came as a result of those proceedings, which is conducted in secret.