Kenosha 911 Center Receives $152K State Grant for Equipment Upgrade

KENOSHA, Wis. (WLIP) — The Kenosha Joint Services 911 dispatch center will receive a $152,034 state grant to replace outdated equipment at dispatchers’ workstations, officials announced Thursday.

The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs grant will cover 90% of the cost to replace 14-year-old console furniture that needs repairs and contains electronic components no longer manufactured, according to Joint Services Director Joshua Nielsen.

“With this grant, we will be able to replace all of the console furniture all at once, rather than in a piecemeal fashion,” Nielsen said. “This will ensure that the dispatchers’ equipment will continue running at 100 percent capability without any interruptions.”

A small portion of the grant — approximately $1,300 — will reimburse advanced training costs for dispatchers.

The award marks nearly $700,000 in total funding received by Joint Services from the state’s Public Safety Answering Points Grant Program over the past four years. In 2023, the center received its largest grant of $450,000 to support an upgrade to the Next Generation 911 system.

Nielsen said the center is currently transitioning from traditional copper phone lines to the state’s 911 IP infrastructure, with completion expected in early 2025.

The grant program is funded through a 75-cent fee on consumers’ cellphone bills. County Executive Samantha Kerkman praised the program for enhancing public safety while minimizing local taxpayer burden.

Local legislators from both parties supported the initiative. Sen. Bob Wirch, D-Pleasant Prairie, highlighted the importance of state-local cooperation, while Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, emphasized the role of modern equipment in attracting and retaining dispatchers.

Kenosha Joint Services, an independent agency, provides 911 dispatch, law enforcement records management, fleet maintenance and evidence services for both city and county. It also serves as the public service answering point for county-wide fire and rescue departments.

John W. Morrissey, City Administrator and Vice Chairman of the Kenosha Joint Services Board of Directors, said the new ergonomically designed consoles will help reduce dispatcher stress and fatigue while improving emergency response efficiency.