IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County plans to respond to Iron County’s request for proposals to provide 911 dispatch services.

At a county board finance meeting Tuesday, Sheriff Aaron Rochon gained permission to prepare a cost plan to present to the neighboring county, which is dealing with staffing shortages.

“I’ll be evaluating the numbers,” said Rochon, who approached Dickinson commissioners after the Iron County Board voted Friday to seek proposals to have 911 services handled by outside sources.

There were no Dickinson objections, but commissioners asked if staff from Iron County might be hired if there’s a need.

“We’ve actually hired two from Iron County,” said Rochon, adding it was too early to judge what the staffing implications might be. The plan would have 911 services based at the Dickinson dispatch center in Iron Mountain.

Iron County Central Dispatch Director Ashley Schmidt told Iron commissioners Friday the department has four full-time openings and two people have recently resigned. One went into another profession and one went to Dickinson County, she explained.

At that meeting, Iron County Civil Counsel Steven Tinti gave assurances that if the Iron County center becomes unable to perform services, a backup system is in place that can step in.

In other action Tuesday, the Dickinson board:

— Recognized Chairman Dan Harrington’s appointment of Commissioner Kevin Sullivan to serve on the Marquette County Community Corrections Board. The county board earlier this month accepted a proposal from Marquette County to join a state-funded program that can help guide defendants through court proceedings and avenues to rehabilitation. The regionalization of the program’s services is starting with Dickinson and Alger counties. One county commissioner is required to serve on the program’s advisory panel. Sullivan, who will fill that role, will be joined by 95-B District Court Judge Julie LaCost as a Dickinson liaison.

— Heard Commissioner Joe Stevens state his appreciation for Memorial Day observances throughout the county. Stevens also praised last week’s all-women Honor Flight from the Upper Peninsula to Washington D.C. A total of 166 female Armed Forces veterans were on the flight from Escanaba, the largest all-women Honor Flight ever.