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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Stutsman and Richland Counties are open to include Valley City and Barnes County to join their joint powers agreement to purchase and share equipment for a new 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point system.

As we told you last week, Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Berquist says the plan can’t move forward until the Valley City and Barnes County boards settle a 9-1-1 dispatchers work contract now under negotiation.

City Administrator David Schelkoph explains the 2 sticking points in the process.

City commissioner Mary Lee Nielson believes it a good opportunity for all entities to join forces as they prepare for 9-1-1 equipment upgrades.

Bergquist says if all 3 counties are together it would save taxpayer money as they purchase new digital equipment to meet a federal redundancy mandate deadline set for July of 2013.