City of Winona Hoping to Have Alternative Response Team Operational by July

Winona City Manager Steve Sarvi updates the city council on the Alternative Response Team on 5-3-21

WINONA. Minn. (KWNO)-The City of Winona is continuing to finalize the Alternative Response Team.  

The addition of the team was approved last year as a part of the city’s 2021 budget. The team would be made up of professionals from Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Centers, who would respond to non-violent mental health-related calls placed to emergency dispatchers.  

City Manager Steve Sarvi said they’re working to finalize the contract, which would be sent back to the council for approval. Sarvi said the next step would be developing a work plan.  

“I would hope to have them operating by July. Sooner obviously would be better but there are still a few things we need to work out,” Sarvi told councilmembers.