County begins process to replace police dog

Taylor County is picking up the pace in efforts to replace the sheriff’s department police dog.

Sheriff Larry Woebbeking reported to members of the county’s law enforcement committee last week that the K-9 officer will be looking at kennels and is starting the process to replace the department’s aging K-9.

Committee chairman Lester Lewis recommended the county contact a kennel in the southern part of the state that he said many departments are going through. He also noted that in many counties they are able to get donations to help cover the cost of the K-9 program, citing Sawyer County as able to maintain two dogs on the force this way.

In other business, committee members:

★ Received a report from chief deputy Corey Dassow that they accepted a quote from General Communications of Eau Claire to install a recording device that will handle phone conversations as well as 9-1-1 calls and offi cer calls. The cost of the system was $29,900 with a five year service agreement for $14,000.

Dassow said the plan is for it to be installed in February or early March. The county has a $60,000 credit from Motorola due to the equipment installed as part of the 9-1-1 upgrade not working the way the county needed it to.

★ Received a report on health department vaccination efforts. Committee member Scott Mildbrand reported being part of a vaccination clinic run by the health department for mink workers and praised its effi ciency and speed. “I think if they had the vaccine they could have vaccinated hundreds that day,” he said.

Lewis also praised the health department’s efforts noting that the pandemic had not come as a surprise to them. “They are top notch, I can’t say enough about them especially their leadership,” Lewis said.

Mildbrand said it really enforced to him that if the county gets allocated vaccines they can get it done.