Several Jefferson County department heads gave routine updates Oct. 2 on emergency communications, road projects, grant applications and FEMA recovery work.

Brandon, the county communications lead, said the county began a test phase for Comms Coach, an AI-based call-review tool, and that dispatchers are forming a study group to pursue an Emergency Number Professional (ENP) certification. "There's a lot of buzz around Comms Coach," Brandon said; the county is in a test mode while it refines grading criteria and training.

County road staff reported paving and finishing the season’s chip-and-seal work. Staff said curb-and-gutter work on Esplano Drive is scheduled to start and that FEMA eligibility reviews for recent storm-related requests are ongoing; staff said one road may be ineligible but county representatives are working with FEMA to clarify eligibility.

County technology staff said they have applied for roughly $300,000 in grants for equipment and cybersecurity projects and are drafting policies for internet-of-things (IoT) devices and county digital operations. The county also noted that Brandon’s Comms Coach project was selected as the best local-government application at a recent Digital Government Summit; the county said Brandon and his team will present Oct. 7.

No formal decisions were sought; the reports were informational.