[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6541487,"mediaKeyId","3413750-1ccb86f23e09623fe67f9c9dd65b4d16","parentId",3413750,"title","Committee approves radio and helicopter maintenance contracts; minutes approved by voice vote","audioSeconds",216,"startMs",3917000,"endMs",4133000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3413750-1ccb86f23e09623fe67f9c9dd65b4d16&start=3917&end=4133","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3413750-1ccb86f23e09623fe67f9c9dd65b4d16/thumbnail_3917000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6541487/DeKalb-County/Georgia/Committee-approves-radio-and-helicopter-maintenance-contracts-minutes-approved-by-voice-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541487-14fbcca3e87c30f63c8b38483027af4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450746&Signature=dh95ZvvE24lR7-TvKTiFRyj0aNk1lq29CaaYrRl4CytmZpXU~ldWqcrnlTbWfGqFtvxlJFYasDka-Ilt9ffDLo7hRPJWTu-97e71gD5dX6dtBbeattBl9jGhbiwpCAfzEsPe~pu4Q9MNXw8WTMX-DHH-ovP53QKop76EQhQ8R6rAGtwOUyV6hMAFZm3nbZkSuNi0H7OWaCGogLSt-sP8XC86BykJRBEkUzkBp0lcMFT4VAKuVgsOxsOzkWo2dTnZeP-abG4VKo0VxMgWys~OznBcD7Xmy44QKuiC69sBaWQcVdljsAw5fLUuF9A9kaGNA4bNfiDtxL0dJU~xD3fA2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeKalb County","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","DeKalb County’s IRPS Committee approved two procurement items on the committee agenda and approved minutes from an earlier item by voice vote.

1) Public safety radios (item 20250416): The committee ratified two purchase orders and approved a contract increase to Motorola Solutions, Inc. under an existing Sourcewell cooperative contract (Sourcewell contract number 042021-MOT). The change order (contract 1377240) covers APX radios and accessories (remote speaker microphones, chargers, batteries), device installation and programming, and seeks to increase funds for Motorola Solutions, Inc. by an amount not to exceed $362,440.85. The items will purchase 50 radios and associated accessories for fire rescue, the marshal’s office, and police services. The committee approved the item by motion and voice vote; the transcript records \"All in favor? Aye… Motion carries.\" (specific vote counts were not recorded in the transcript).

2) Helicopter maintenance renewal (item 20250472): The committee exercised the first renewal option for an annual helicopter maintenance and repair services contract (contract 1381091) awarded to Rotor Resources for police aviation. The renewal covers maintenance and required FAA-mandated services for the county’s two helicopters; the renewal amount requested was not to exceed $400,000 for the contract year. Committee members approved the renewal by voice vote; the transcript records \"All in favor? Aye. Motion carries.\" A county official noted the amount is for the contract year and that typical annual spending is usually less than the not-to-exceed amount.

The committee also approved item 20250702 (minutes) by motion and voice vote earlier in the meeting.

Ending: The approved procurements will proceed to implementation; staff and departments will execute the purchase orders and renewal in accordance with county procurement rules and the terms discussed at committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeKalb County - ERPS Committee Meeting - May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The IRPS committee approved a change order for radio equipment purchases and exercised a renewal for helicopter maintenance during the meeting. The committee also approved minutes from a prior item by voice vote. Commissioners approved both contract items by voice vote during the meeting.","taxTitle","DeKalb County, Georgia","taxId",3571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541492,"DeKalb County receives EMS update: unit hours up, wall time improving but still above national goal",834,1837000,2671000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3413750-1ccb86f23e09623fe67f9c9dd65b4d16&start=1837&end=2671","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3413750-1ccb86f23e09623fe67f9c9dd65b4d16/thumbnail_1837000.jpg","/articles/6541492/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-County-receives-EMS-update-unit-hours-up-wall-time-improving-but-still-above-national-goal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541492-564c14802c1513cdd6040932adc86c36/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450746&Signature=KKZYPpvdzaJvV8kB4HRjsbRE6UvlLwJ5X17TBabU6MhVm0M4WpYBqi3COkJfHPJoEHcjFFkedyz0b6oA5TYkbIGGXF9gChOi8w35u5sdvTo7YuPxpkzSZ-CkuPxS8Wz3P2BXDWZFwrb7MF-AvqTR~wyi0ma7VAUclkXarmYLBp2MFiy5uPyjwJSssUC1tb9l4pdBE8ETle48SFnM4rFtWSt40qpVEo5AYrEiM637aJfR9Hm11CXh~gRjhTaJXpTROZMSHZ5TptSnp12UUlsHDjhxA1vG5fjtIJaXefPMshXbXk4azOFTnBK6Ab8CLH7aKJUFyBT04ETSFta02aFrew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DeKalb County IRPS Committee received a detailed update on EMS operations and the ongoing RFP process for ambulance services during a committee meeting.

The county’s EMS chief summarized an operational assessment performed in 2024 (the Fitch Associates report), noting that the county provided 2019–2023 data to the consultant. Since late 2024 and early 2025 the county increased its in-house ambulance capacity by placing five county-owned ambulances in service and is averaging between six and eight DeKalb County units on the road some days. The chief said AMR (the contracted ambulance vendor) averaged about 564 unit hours per day in April; the contract required a minimum of 548 unit hours after an increase that took effect April 1 and is projected to rise again (presentation referenced a future 568-hour target).

Committee members heard that hospital “wall time” — the time an ambulance and crew wait at a hospital to transfer a patient — remains above the national turnaround goal. The chief said the county’s average wall time has come down to just under 50 minutes but the national target is about 20 minutes. The county has a monthly hospital focus group, is negotiating operational changes with major receiving hospitals (the chief discussed Emory as a principal receiving system), and is exploring whether state-level standards or statutory measures could help reduce wall times.

Staff reviewed service-quality initiatives intended to reduce unnecessary transports and ambulance utilization: a nurse navigator program (a live nurse available via 911 transfer to advise callers and reduce avoidable transports) and a Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program called HEALS (Healthcare, Education and LINC Services) that makes targeted outreach to frequent users and referrals to community resources. The chief said those programs have produced measurable diversion from transports and help reduce demand on ambulances.

The presentation also described changes in the RFP for next ambulance contract(s): proposers are asked to submit capability for different service-delivery intervals (unit hours) so the county can choose a level in the awarded contract; the county will permit bidders to request a subsidy but will set billing limits; and the county has increased liquidated-damage/penalty language to hold contractors to committed unit-hour levels. The county’s current contract extension with AMR runs through June 30 (extension details were discussed) and the county currently pays an annual subsidy in that extension (presentation cited a subsidy figure of about $4.9 million). The template used for evaluation will place more emphasis on service quality in addition to response time targets.

Performance data presented to commissioners showed a rebound in call volume since 2021 after early COVID reductions and an improving utilization rate (unit-hour utilization fell from about 80% in 2023 to about 60% in the most recent reporting period). The chief said lower utilization and more units on the road support better posting across the county and reduce crew overload and wear on vehicles. Penalty/credit line items on the contract reports have fallen in recent months; the presenter noted April penalty/credit amounts were materially lower than earlier months and expressed the county’s desire to see those numbers approach zero.

Commissioners asked questions about how much the county can influence hospital turnaround times (the chief noted some hospitals and states have issued guidance or recommendations around 20-minute turnaround time targets and that state-level policy could be a lever), the cadence of the unit-hour increases built into the extension (no further automatic increases beyond the scheduled one were included; future requirements will be set in the new contract), the number and condition of county ambulances (five new ambulances are in service and several earlier purchases are aging), and workforce capacity in fire/EMS (the chief said the fire/EMS ranks had active recruitment and a current cohort of recruits in training; the department cited about 80 fire vacancies but several hiring classes and a federal SAFER grant had provided temporary funding for positions).

Ending: Committee members thanked staff for the forward-looking approach and directed continued monitoring of unit hours, hospital wall times, RFP progress, and staffing, and requested follow-up data in future committee updates.","County EMS staff reported improvements in unit deployment and response times, described programs intended to reduce unnecessary transports, and outlined changes included in an RFP for future ambulance contracts. Commissioners asked about hospital turnaround (\"wall time\"), staffing and maintenance, and directed continued monitoring.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541497,"DeKalb County committee discusses pension COLA options, cost to move lower-tier employees to mid-tier plan",1409,102000,1511000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3413750-1ccb86f23e09623fe67f9c9dd65b4d16&start=102&end=1511","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3413750-1ccb86f23e09623fe67f9c9dd65b4d16/thumbnail_102000.jpg","/articles/6541497/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-County-committee-discusses-pension-COLA-options-cost-to-move-lower-tier-employees-to-mid-tier-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541497-375cb752538afd252ef105c7b8d26748/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450746&Signature=RDBGvrGMCOTLB8wCQm2b3EdfwwglGZUROCYnm-WluMzXEYS6obP7qeGggJ2v3yLeSkLyb-zLjc2-frflLHDL4wZF~DoHycCJwN9Hw6kz2vMz0HGpTJe-do-P2NOTu5IOMPr2lRIj6rcJ75Wr1YIhHO-qOnCiS2rPAIyhDKqt5FE6wVagPFkpkt1TSBzD~EU9-iW2axz~kCaCrnwV5KWbL5aLsesMt91m5pnSFnkin2upCWqKpyC51PeHXVWIe2IKnNqxrqClGN9nLPf3YyVe7nFwdR4g5tl4it7on4bOosye6P9iGA0nc6nsb9dQzkMVzRAIRNGvUzWqsLuUPMPBFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DeKalb County IRPS Committee Chair Ladina Bolton and county commissioners discussed potential changes to the county pension structure on a committee hearing that focused on retention and budget impacts.

County pension presenter Mr. Walls summarized two core issues: whether to assume an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees in actuarial projections, and whether to move currently employed staff in the lowest multiplier tier (Group 3, 1% multiplier) into the mid-tier Group 2 (2.25% multiplier) to improve retention. Mr. Walls said a 0.5% annual COLA assumption in actuarial reports would raise county contributions from about $81,000,000 to roughly $86,000,000 (an increase of about $5,000,000 per year); a 1% COLA assumption would raise projected contributions to about $96,000,000 (about $15,000,000 more than current contributions), according to the presentation distributed to commissioners.

The presentation also compared employee contribution rates and retirement “payback” timelines using a $50,000 salary example. Under current Group 3 rules, employees contribute 6.42% of pay and, with a 1% multiplier, would see roughly a $10,000 annual pension after 20 years; that example yields about 6.42 years to recoup employee contributions (not counting investment earnings). Group 2 contribution rates were shown at 8.57% with a 2.25% multiplier; Group 1 contribution rates shown at 10.48% with a 2.75% multiplier. The presenter and commissioners noted the plans were designed so the middle and top tiers have similar payback periods despite different multipliers.

Commissioners said retention — particularly for public safety staff — is the primary policy goal behind considering a change. Commissioner Shakira Johnson said she would prefer eliminating Group 3 in favor of Group 2 if financially feasible; Commissioner Terry said he supported moving toward Group 2 as a middle ground and urged modeling to show long-term budget impacts. Commissioners noted roughly 4,000–5,000 employees are in the Group 3 tier (of an estimated 6,000–7,000 county employees) and that moving all affected employees to Group 2 would increase employer contributions by about $14,000,000–$14,200,000 annually, according to the presentation and follow-up clarifications in committee.

Legal and procedural constraints were discussed: committee members were told that IRS rules prevent offering an individual “opt-in” choice for employees when a more beneficial plan change is implemented; changes would have to be applied to all affected members rather than offered as an opt-in. Commissioners also debated whether COLAs for retirees are legally required or historically ad hoc; presenters said COLAs have been granted on an ad hoc basis in recent years and would continue to require commissioner action each budget cycle unless the commission explicitly modeled and funded an automatic COLA through contribution-rate changes.

There was no formal motion to change pension plan rules during the committee meeting. Commissioners asked staff to model the pension and COLA scenarios with budget office input (the committee asked staff to obtain numbers from TJ Siegler) and to return to committee with those modeled impacts before any policy decision. Chair Ladina Bolton confirmed staff will pursue the requested modeling and follow up.

Ending: Commissioners directed staff to produce actuarial models that show the budgetary impact of (a) assuming a 0.5% or 1% annual COLA in the actuarial valuation and (b) moving Group 3 employees to Group 2, and to brief the committee and the county’s budget staff on the results before any formal ordinance or pension code amendment is considered.","Committee members reviewed pension plan structure and cost estimates for annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) and for moving employees from the 1% multiplier (Group 3) to the 2.25% multiplier (Group 2). Staff and the pension presenter provided contribution-rate comparisons and recommended modeling impacts before any formal change.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves radio and helicopter maintenance contracts; minutes approved by voice vote

DeKalb County receives EMS update: unit hours up, wall time improving but still above national goal

DeKalb County committee discusses pension COLA options, cost to move lower-tier employees to mid-tier plan