JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist gave the annual report from the Stutsman County Communications Center for 2018.
Bergquist stated that total calls for service overall continued their upward trend in 2018.

Bergquist says overall, calls went up about 733, but says there was not big change in the level of calls for service from 2017 to 2018. He pointed out that as far as all the 911 calls are concerned, the number was down about 705.
He says they’re seeing a lot more come in from cell phones compared to landlines.

Bergquist later touched base on the Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN) for North Dakota. He says the state approved the contract for the statewide radio system to Motorola. Bergquist pointed out that the next focus is how much it’ll cost and how to pay for it.

Bergquist says first will be changing out local radio consoles. He says Stutsman County Communications Center is 14 years-old having run 24 hours a day. He says they will need to be replaced to be part of the statewide network.

The radio consoles will be replaced this year at a cost of nearly $300,000. He says the increase in 911 fees will alleviate some of the expenses.
Bergquist later gave a flood outlook for Stutsman County. He says since November 2018, the county has received a lot of snowfall.

Bergquist says the county could expect some flooding during the spring melt.