Marathon County Public Safety Committee Meeting - 9/8/26

The Marathon County Public Safety Committee met on September 8, 2026, to discuss several public safety and law enforcement topics. Key procurement-related discussions included a review of the Sheriff's Office contract for law enforcement services with the Village of Rib Mountain, focusing on service levels, deputy assignments, and associated costs nearing $400,000 for three deputies. The committee also reviewed a proposed radio paging system upgrade to address coverage gaps in certain county areas, weighing a costly $500,000 infrastructure expansion against a pilot program using a modern G2 paging system that integrates with cell phones. Additionally, the committee received a presentation on the county's partnership with Central Wisconsin Mediation, which receives $15,000 annually to help reduce court caseloads through mediation services, thereby saving court time and costs. The meeting included discussions on budget development, interagency cooperation, and technology investments to improve public safety communications and services. No formal votes were recorded in the transcript, but action items included piloting the G2 paging system and continuing contract negotiations with Rib Mountain.