IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – In the upcoming August 6 primary election, voters in Dickinson County will decide on a millage renewal aimed at maintaining and enhancing the county’s 911 emergency services.
The proposed renewal seeks to continue the 0.40 mill assessment, equivalent to $0.40 per $1,000 of taxable value, for an additional 3 years. If approved, the renewal is expected to generate approximately $407,425 in its first year, funding essential operations and equipment for the county’s Enhanced 911 system.
Pete Schlitt, Deputy Director of Emergency Services at the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, explained that this millage is not a new tax, but a continuation of the support that has allowed the county to implement significant upgrades over the years.
“This is just a renewal to maintain what we’ve already had. We’ve done some beautiful upgrades over the time, and the voters have helped us do that,” Schlitt said. He noted that Dickinson County has been at the forefront of emergency communication advancements, being an early adopter of next-generation 911 services like text-to-911.
“If you’re in a situation where you really can’t talk, you can text 911, and the dispatcher can communicate back-and-forth with you without any noise,” Schlitt explained. “If you’re locked in a room somewhere and something is going on outside, you can still get a hold of 911, and we’ve been that way for several years now, so we’ve been ahead of the game.”
Recent upgrades to the 911 system have focused on cybersecurity and expanding dispatch capabilities. “We’ve just done some big upgrades. A lot of it has to do with cybersecurity. We’ve installed a fourth console because it’s getting busier now,” Schlitt said. The enhancements ensure that the center can handle an increasing volume of emergency calls and manage major incidents effectively. “If we have to expand, we have the capability to do it. It’s set up so that if we have a major incident, we have room for another dispatcher, or we can bring them in, and then we can handle that crisis.”
Schlitt also highlighted the robustness of the system in the face of potential cyber threats, referencing a recent cyber shutdown that disrupted services across the country. “Fortunately, that didn’t affect us. We were able not to get hit with that,” Schlitt assured. He emphasized that the 911 center’s radio system is designed with backup measures, allowing direct communication with first responders even if the Internet or fiber optics go down.
Reflecting on the quality of the county’s 911 services, Schlitt expressed confidence in the continued support of the community. “I think the citizens of Dickinson County really are blessed with the 911 center, they’ve used it for years. I think pretty much everybody’s happy with it. You know, we don’t overextend what we need to do. We do what we need to do to make sure it works right, but I think everything else is doing excellent.”
As the August 6th primary approaches, Dickinson County voters will have the opportunity to ensure the continuation of these critical services if voters decide on renewing the millage for another three years.
Language on the Ballot:
Shall the voters of Dickinson County be assessed 0.40 mill ($.40 per $1,000.00 of Taxable Value) over and above the rate of taxation now in effect, to be levied for a period of three years, 2025 to 2027 inclusive, for the purpose of operating and equipping an Enhanced 911 system in Dickinson County and for no other purpose? The estimated amount of revenue that will be collected if approved and levied in the first calendar year is approximately $407,425.
This is a renewal.
Sample ballots for the upcoming August 6th primary can be viewed by visiting:
