IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County will stand by its selection of a vendor for a computer-aided dispatch 911 system upgrade, committing to a cost of $464,905 paid over a five-year period.

A previous estimate for the CAD project was $70,000 less, but a consortium of Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan counties hopes to secure grant aid. The current software is approaching the end of its life and “we need a solution,” Dickinson County Sheriff Aaron Rochon told the county board this week.

The board had a teleconference Monday with TSSI Consulting of Beaverton, Mich., which recommended a contract with Tyler Technologies after a study that began three years ago.

The acquisition, which the Dickinson board had endorsed in December, has been complicated by Marquette County’s decision to entertain an alternative offer from Motorola, but Rochon said he supports staying with Tyler.

After hearing TSSI’s explanation of the process, Dickinson commissioners agreed Monday to remain with the consortium.

Dickinson County is part of North CAD, which 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, according to Rochon.

Tyler Technologies, an S&P 500 company, is the largest U.S. company providing software and technology services exclusively for the public sector.

In other action, the county board:

— Heard a report from Denise Formolo, Dickinson County veteran service officer, on the benefits available to veterans and the support that she and colleague Lacey Ellison provide. The VSO office is funded, in part, by a countywide property tax levy of 0.0999 mills, or roughly 10 cents per $1,000 of taxable value. The benefits secured by veterans in the county has risen from about $13 million in 2017 to about $25 million in 2024, Formolo said. “It goes right back out into our community,” she added. “Recognize our veterans, know that they do a lot for our community.” The Dickinson VSO office is at 2301 Woodward Ave. in Kingsford, near Ford Airport.

— Heard Dana Nelson, Dickinson Conservation District manager, offer a reminder that the district’s annual spring tree sale is in progress. An online shop is available at https://www.dickinsoncd.org/shop or visit the office at 420 N. Hooper St., Kingsford. The deadline is April 3 and the sale is a primary fundraiser for the district, Nelson said. Volunteer help in bundling trees is also appreciated, as nearly 47,000 were distributed last year, she said.

— Approved requests from Lake Antoine Park Partners to hold the Crafty Flea Market and Lights on the Lake at Lake Antoine Park.

The flea market date is Saturday, Sept. 12, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with setup from Sept. 8 through Sept. 11. During this time, camper restrictions will be in place. Lights on the Lake, featuring holiday displays at campsites, will take place from Nov. 26 through Jan. 1.

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