Eddy County to Switch 9-1-1 Dispatching to State Radio

Facing budget constraints, county withdraws from joint powers agreement with Lake Region Law Enforcement Center

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:00am

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A highly stylized, fragmented painting of a ringing telephone in shades of blue and violet, conveying the disruption and transition of emergency communication services.The decision by Eddy County to switch its 9-1-1 dispatching to a state-run service reflects the fiscal pressures facing rural communities.New Rockford Today

Eddy County, North Dakota, has decided to withdraw from its joint powers agreement with the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center (LEC) for 9-1-1 dispatching services, opting instead to work with the state-operated State Radio service starting in 2027. The move is expected to save the county an estimated $200,000 annually as it faces mounting financial pressure and a state-imposed 3% cap on property tax increases.

Why it matters

The decision to leave the LEC after decades of partnership reflects the fiscal challenges facing rural counties in North Dakota. While the change may impact some specialized services currently offered by the LEC, local emergency responders have expressed support for the cost savings and believe the transition to State Radio will have minimal impact on residents calling 9-1-1.

The details

On March 24, the Eddy County Commission voted unanimously to withdraw from the LEC in 2027. Commissioners cited the rising costs of the LEC, which receives around $250,000 annually from Eddy County, compared to the estimated $50,000 the county would pay for State Radio's 9-1-1 dispatching services. While the LEC offers some additional services like reverse 9-1-1 calls and siren operation that State Radio does not provide, local officials believe the cost savings outweigh the need for those specialized features.

  • On March 24, 2026, the Eddy County Commission voted to withdraw from the LEC.
  • Eddy County is contracted with the LEC for 9-1-1 dispatching through the end of 2026.
  • Eddy County plans to officially switch to State Radio for 9-1-1 services on January 1, 2027.

The players

Eddy County Commission

The governing body of Eddy County, North Dakota, which made the decision to withdraw from the LEC and transition to State Radio for 9-1-1 dispatching.

Lake Region Law Enforcement Center (LEC)

The regional 9-1-1 dispatching service in Devils Lake, North Dakota, that has partnered with Eddy County for decades.

State Radio

The state-owned 9-1-1 dispatching service operated out of Bismarck, North Dakota, which Eddy County will be transitioning to in 2027.

Dave Gehrtz

The chairman of the Eddy County Commission.

Lisa Thompson

The emergency manager for Eddy County.

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What they’re saying

“We as a board are looking at dollars and cents, and we cannot sustain the costs that we are incurring.”

— Dave Gehrtz, Eddy County Commission Chairman

“Financially, we're strapped. Our health insurance changes alone wiped out the 3% we've been capped at, so we have to find ways to financially survive.”

— Lisa Thompson, Eddy County Emergency Manager

“With the fiscal savings here I don't see any justification to stay where we're at.”

— Todd Allmaras, New Rockford Fire Department

“From our perspective – and this is my opinion – the public, when they have an emergency and call 9-1-1, are not going to see a significant impact either way.”

— Todd Allmaras, New Rockford Fire Department

“I totally understand the money savings, but I think that you're going to lose the camaraderie that you have and I think you're going to lose some of the services that you have.”

— Starr Klemetsrud, Director, Lake Region Law Enforcement Center

What’s next

Eddy County plans to sign a contract with State Radio at their next regular meeting on April 7 and expects to begin working with State Radio on the transition to its dispatch service sometime this fall, in preparation for services to officially switch over on January 1, 2027.

The takeaway

This decision by Eddy County highlights the fiscal challenges facing rural counties in North Dakota, as they are forced to make difficult choices to balance budgets and find cost savings, even if it means ending long-standing partnerships and services. While the transition may impact some specialized features, the county and local emergency responders believe the significant cost savings outweigh the tradeoffs.