Winnebago County Dispatch Center. May 4, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Winnebago County is planning to spend over $500,000 of tech upgrades to improve its 911 dispatch center.
Upgrades include new audio software to meet updated public records requirements and a voice-to-text transcribing service.
“The voice-to-text has some features in it that will help us in the future as we encounter some people that are non-English speakers that come through the text system,” said Lara Vendola-Messer, Winnebago County Captain of Communications.
The department says upgrades like this are routine but vital to make sure responders can act as quickly as possible. Even small upgrades can make a big difference in an emergency.
“You never know when you might have an emergency,” said dispatcher Grace Phillip. “Could be walking down the street and have something happen that you maybe didn’t foresee happening.”
A grant will cover 90% of the up-front cost of the upgrades. Then, county taxpayers will cover about an extra $70,000 a year to maintain the new software. That will be included in future budgets, not a separate tax bill.
It’s unclear how many other counties have implemented similar technology.
“I’d like to think that all taxpayers want their 911 system to work,” said Vendola-Messer. “It’s definitely something that we see as absolutely mission critical in public safety.”
The grant is funded through the 911 surcharge on monthly phone bills.
The board already accepted the grant but just needs to approve what it’s being spent on at its May 19 meeting. If approved, the county will make the upgrades in early 2027.
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