McKenzie County E911 Director Secures Infrastructure Upgrades and Training Grant
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
In a discussion centered on public safety infrastructure, the McKenzie County Board of Commissioners took significant action on behalf of the county’s 911 services this past week. At the July 7, 2026, McKenzie County Board of Commissioners meeting, Director of Environmental Compliance and E911, Rick Schreiber, secured board approval for significant infrastructure projects and a new professional development grant.
Schreiber successfully renewed the state contract for the 911 system for the 2027-2029 biennium, with costs remaining consistent with the previous year. Additionally, the commissioners approved a $1.31 million bid from Great Plains for essential radio tower infrastructure projects. This project includes construction work at County 27 and the tower in Grassy Butte, maintenance at the existing Watford City tower location, as well as a five-year maintenance plan for the towers totaling $4,480.
The board specifically chose Great Plains due to their established familiarity with county infrastructure and their status as a North Dakota-based company. During the meeting, officials also navigated the challenges of the Grassy Butte tower, which is currently on private property and was originally constructed by an now-defunct oil company; the county will continue to manage the tower’s status as it works with Great Plains to determine future operational needs.
In addition to infrastructure, the commission approved the acceptance of a $4,500 scholarship from the North Dakota 911 Association. This will be a big win for local dispatchers who will receive valuable training. The grant will fund an intensive training program titled “A Cry for Help,” facilitated by the Denise Amber Lee Foundation. This course provides dispatchers with essential tools to identify and prevent life-threatening lapses in emergency response.
As a condition of the award, the training will be open to personnel from other dispatch centers throughout the state. The center plans to host the training this fall at the law enforcement center, where new technology will be utilized to accommodate 30 to 40 participants.
On the administrative side, the grant will necessitate a budget amendment to create a new revenue line item for the grant funds. While this grant required no local matching funds, the board used the occasion to reinforce a policy requiring all departments to present potential grant opportunities to the commission for review before formal application. This move is designed to catch any hidden costs, such as matching funds or operational mandates, before they impact the county’s long-term budget. The discussion highlighted McKenzie County commissioners’ ongoing efforts to keep our community safe and soundly managed.