County plans major upgrade to outdated jail system

In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the urgent need to replace an outdated proprietary system that is no longer supported and has become prohibitively expensive. The current system's limitations have prompted a collaborative effort involving IT and maintenance teams to explore viable alternatives.

One promising option is the Gallagher system, which has been successfully implemented in Ford County. Officials highlighted a recent visit to Ford County, where they met with Sheriff Bill Carr and toured the facility to observe the system's effective integration and operation. The project lead from Ford County, who provided the most competitive pricing for the new system, was noted for his competence and experience.

Financially, the county is well-positioned to fund this transition. There are approximately $527,000 remaining in the county equipment reserve fund, derived from sales tax allocated for jail construction, which must be utilized for jail-related expenses. This amount is sufficient to cover the projected costs of $487,000 for the new system, along with an additional quote received by the county.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the necessity of moving forward with the Gallagher system, ensuring that the jail's operational needs are met efficiently and cost-effectively.