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County 9-1-1 center to buy deployable AT&T Vesta workstation for backup operations
Summary
The St. Joseph County 9-1-1 center will purchase a deployable AT&T Vesta 9-1-1 workstation for $30,500 from the PSAP capital budget; staff described the unit as compatible with the county’s existing Vesta system and useful during severe weather or overloads.
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of a deployable AT&T Vesta 9-1-1 workstation for the county’s primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
Sal Parisi, IT manager for the 9-1-1 center, described the $30,500 workstation as running the same Vesta software used at the permanent dispatch stations. The unit can function as a stationary workstation or as a mobile deployable station to answer emergency calls when the center is evacuated, during high-call-volume storms, or when filling additional positions without adding full staff.
Parisi said connectivity via FirstNet is required and will add a monthly charge (noted at $29.99 in discussion). He told commissioners the purchase was included in the 2025 PSAP capital budget and that AT&T is effectively a sole source because the deployable unit must be compatible with the county’s existing Vesta system.
Commissioners asked about usage metrics and whether more units might be requested later; Parisi said the center expects the device would be used during weather-related overloads, evacuations to the backup center and that staff could potentially operate one remotely. He said the center might eventually seek three to four such units depending on demonstrated need.
The commission approved the purchase by recorded vote; Commissioners Morton, Hayden and Pacmire were recorded as voting aye.
