COEUR d’ALENE — Kootenai County commissioners will consider a multimillion-dollar proposal to upgrade the county’s 911 system and move operations into a new facility. 

Lt. Jeff Howard first presented the proposal to the commissioners in November 2025, when the board approved him to gather initial cost estimates and plans. 

During the board’s Tuesday morning status update, Howard outlined plans for a 9,000-square-foot dispatch center that adjoins the Kootenai County Office of Emergency Management, located at 1662 W. Wyoming Ave. in Hayden. 

The dispatch center would cost roughly $8.5 million to build, including $6.5 million for construction and about $2.5 million for soft costs such as permits and fees, engineering fees, furnishings, and a radio tower. 

The proposal also calls for upgrades to the county’s 911 technology. 

“There’s a push from the state to upgrade equipment to increase our interoperability throughout the state,” he said. “It’s a fantastic program. I’m very behind it. But that needs to occur next year, one way or another.” 

Howard said the upgrades can be completed for about $5 million if done at one time. The county would need to pay about $2 million upfront and the remaining $5 million over five years. 

“The center is at a point now where most of our infrastructure has to be replaced within the next three years,” he said. “The timing is working out really well for us to bundle all of these upgrades at once.” 

The existing 911 dispatch center, located at 3380 N. Julia Street in Coeur d’Alene and appraised at about $1.6 million, was built in 1993. Howard said the building will soon need a new roof and has plumbing issues that require tearing out the foundation and temporarily stopping operations. 

“When it was built in 1992, we were taking on 40,000 calls a year,” Howard told commissioners in November. “We’re taking on 160,000 calls now.” 

Dispatchers work out of the same room, Howard said, and noise levels become distracting during major incidents.

County 911 fees can be applied to the proposed project. 

“It’ll be important to see what those fees can contribute to your proposal,” Kootenai County Commissioner Bruce Mattare said.  

Kootenai County Finance Director Brandi Falcon told commissioners the county accumulates between $700,000 and $800,000 in 911 fees annually, and there are about $1.2 million in the fund currently. 

Mattare suggested that other funding options be considered, such as selling the existing building before any move. 

    This drawing shows a floor plan for a proposed 9,000-square-foot 911 dispatch center.