The Combined Communications Center User Board agreed to offer a financially strapped McLean County a temporary break in its reverse 911 system annual fee.

The board Tuesday recommended an offer to delay charging the county its annual $4,800 fee until the 2010 fiscal year. Meanwhile, the committee will still charge a fee of 7 cents per reverse 911 call sent to cover for long-distance fees for the service.

A reverse 911 system alerts residents on their phones of dangerous situations.

Mounting winter storm and flooding recovery costs have wiped out McLean County's operation budget in the past six months.

The Combined Communications Committee will charge a total of $9,600 to McLean County in 2010 for both years' annual fees.

McLean County has spent $2.3 million to remove snow for the past six months. Costs for flooded roads are still being tallied. The huge deficit forced McLean County to put a freeze on capital spending, hiring and overtime.

McLean County officials are awaiting word about state and Federal Emergency Management Administration assistance for the series of snow and flooding disasters so they can make needed repairs.

The board is represented by the Bismarck City Commission, Burleigh County Commission, Bismarck police chief, Burleigh County sheriff, the Bismarck fire chief, the rural fire department and the Metro Area Ambulance.

The Combined Communications Center serves roughly 80,000 people, including portions of McLean County.

McLean County officials had asked to either be taken off the system temporarily or work out a new payment schedule.