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County to open employee gym at new concourse and approve mass-notification system; software cost and staffing debated
Summary
Commissioners authorized no-fee 24/7 employee access to the new 900 concourse gym and approved a $190,080 security and mass-notification system for the facility. They also approved ongoing software costs but deferred adding 1.5 sheriff FTEs to staff the new site.
Pennington County commissioners on Sept. 2 approved two measures to support staff safety and wellness at the new 900 concourse administration building: a no-fee employee gym and a mass-notification/security system for the facility.
Buildings and Grounds Director Davis Purcell reported that a staff survey of roughly 800 employees produced more than 340 responses; about 60% said they were "very interested" in using the concourse gym, and most favored 24/7 access because many public-safety employees work off-hours. Purcell recommended the county "treat the facility as an employee wellness benefit, not a revenue source" and cover ongoing costs of roughly $2,000 per year from Buildings & Grounds operations.
The board voted to authorize the gym to operate as a no-fee employee wellness benefit open 24 hours, with employee access only and a required waiver. "I think wellness and anything that's going to benefit the employee for health, safety, and welfare, I'm in favor of," the chair said during the vote.
Security and mass notification: commissioners also approved a proposal from Convergent Technologies to install a building-wide mass-notification and panic system at 900 Concourse. Purcell said the system integrates with the county's existing Everbridge emergency-notification platform and the county's access-control system and that it would provide localized alerts inside the large, single-level building. The commission authorized a total not-to-exceed project authorization of $190,080.17, which included a 10% contingency. Purcell said the project would be funded from existing bond funds allocated to the concourse project.
The board separately approved the annual software cost — about $16,434 — to be included in the Buildings & Grounds 2026 operating budget. Commissioners debated whether the system was a "want" or a "need," and whether alternative vendors should be solicited. Purcell said Everbridge was chosen to maintain integration with existing county emergency-management services and the access-control platform, and that an RFP would lengthen the procurement timeline and risk missing the project schedule prior to move-in.
Staffing question: commissioners discussed a related proposal to staff a deputy at the concourse. Purcell provided a sheriff's-office estimate for 1.5 full-time equivalents to staff a front desk presence; commissioners voted not to add the FTEs at this time, saying staffing additions should be considered in the 2026 budget process. "I'm not looking at adding any FTEs while we're working on the '26 budget," Commissioner Drews said.
What the motions did: the project installation and contingency were authorized and will be paid from existing bond funds; the ongoing software subscription will be added to the Buildings & Grounds 2026 proposed operating budget; gym operations will be covered from Buildings & Grounds operations at an estimated $2,000 per year; and the request to add 1.5 sheriff FTEs was deferred for future budget consideration.
Why it matters: The security system adds a building-level safety layer before occupants move into the new concourse spaces, while the free employee gym is intended to support recruitment and retention through a workplace wellness benefit.
