10.b 2026 PSR Users Fee Notice Letter
Law Enforcement Center • 15015 62nd Street North • P. O. Box 3801 • Stillwater, MN 55082-3801
Telephone: 651-430-7600 • Fax: 651-430-7603 • TTY: 651-430-6246
www.wcso.info
Washington County is an equal opportunity organization and employer
Office of the Sheriff
Commitment to Excellence
Dan Starry
County Sheriff
Douglas H. Anschutz
Chief Deputy
May 26, 2026
Dear Washington County Public Safety Chiefs and Managers,
The 800 MHz Public Safety Radio System went into service in March of 2009 with users from Law
Enforcement, Fire, EMS and Public Works agencies across Washington County. As of April 2026, there
are 1,789 active radios.
The Communications System Subscriber Agreement that your agency and the County entered into
requires the County to notify the users of any proposed changes in the annual Subscriber Support Fee
charged for each radio on the system. This letter will satisfy that requirement and also provide news on
system updates.
RADIO REPAIR FUND
The radio repair fund ($1 per radio per month) began collecting in January 2026 after being paused since
2019. This fund is only used for the repair of field radios. The fund will stop collecting at the end of
2026 and will not resume until the fund balance drops below $6000.
SUBSCRIBER SUPPORT FEES
The subscriber support fees in 2026 and 2027 will remain $400.08 per year per radio. The subscriber
support fee maintains the system infrastructure by paying for electricity at the sites, fuel for generators,
radio site rent, yearly maintenance on the radio equipment, payroll and other costs associated with
operating the 800 MHz Radio System. The support fee has not changed since ARMER system
implementation in 2009. Costs associated with system supporting contracts, equipment insurance,
electricity, and material continue to increase and is being offset by growing radio counts.
With the radio repair fund pausing at the end of 2026 the 2027 total radio fee will be back to $400 per
year.
SYSTEM UPDATES
• Washington County is planning a transition to automated fire paging at the request of the fire
chiefs. This technology would make fire paging more efficient and consistent. Automated pages
would go out on the new “Alert” talkgroup which has already been programmed in all
Washington County radios. Vendor coordination is ongoing with US Digital Designs with an
installation goal of late 2026.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Nathan Timm
Radio Systems Manager
Washington County Sheriff’s Office
651-430-7863
Nate.timm@co.washington.mn.us