IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County will commit an estimated $393,000 to update its computer-aided dispatch 911 software, hoping as well to secure grant assistance to lessen the cost.

A consortium of Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan counties is moving forward on a replacement plan as the current software approaches the end of its life, Sheriff Aaron Rochon said.

Neglecting to join the efforts of the North CAD Group would simply add to Dickinson County’s expense in maintaining a Next Generation 911 system, Rochon told the county board Tuesday.

North CAD includes nine U.P. counties as well as four in the northern Lower Peninsula. The U.P. 911 Authority established in 2008 also provides economies of scale in coordinating services throughout the region, Rochon explained.

The current software is “still working,” but a practical timeline for replacement would have a new system in place by early 2027, he said.

State Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, is leading an effort with North CAD Group to gain a state appropriation to help fund it, Rochon told the board. “But we can’t delay by waiting for those answers,” he said.

According to a project estimate, Dickinson’s $393,000 cost could be spread out over five years. The current Dickinson CAD cost is about $21,000 annually, Rochon said, adding there may some additional costs eliminated with a new system.

The system in use by the entire North CAD Group was purchased from SunGard Public Sector in 2010. SunGard now operates primarily under the Superion brand, which is part of CentralSquare Technologies.

In 2023, TSSI Consulting of Beaverton, Mich., was hired to help coordinate a replacement project.

Rochon’s request to the county board to continue to pursue the project was approved without opposition.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.