Legislature approves $129,120 for Greenwood police radios after debate over process and precedent

The Jackson County Legislature on Sept. 8 voted to authorize a $129,120 payment to purchase portable and vehicle radios for the Greenwood Police Department, resolving a long-pending equipment request while several legislators cautioned against bypassing a competitive process for future 9-1-1 funding.

The resolution, introduced by Legislator Shawn E. Smith, directed the Director of Finance and Purchasing to issue the check for $129,120. Legislator Smith said Greenwood had been waiting while the county developed a more robust distribution process for 9-1-1 funds and argued the department’s obsolete radios were creating a dire operational problem.

Legislator Lauer objected to setting a precedent by approving the expenditure outside the competitive vetting process, saying it could undercut the integrity of future funding allocations. Legislator Abarca said the Greenwood request had been in the pipeline for years and represented a straightforward need; other members noted Greenwood had previously received funding for dispatch upgrades under an earlier process.

Caleb Clifford of the County Executive’s Office said the request was a current need and acknowledged the county was working on a competitive process for future distributions; he said the administration would treat the resolution as a recommendation and proceed with a competitive process going forward. Legislator Barker corrected the record that an earlier dispatch center referenced in the discussion was Grandview, not Greenwood.

The clerk called the roll on the measure and the tally recorded six yes votes, two no votes and one absence; the resolution passed and was placed on the consent agenda.