Jackson County Board of Directors members approved two security-camera purchases on June 9 to add cameras at the courthouse annex and upgrade cameras in the courthouse.

The county presented a vendor cost proposal from J & B Electronic Systems for two items: installation of new cameras at the Jackson County Courthouse annex, listed at $52,719.09, and an upgrade to existing courthouse cameras at $27,050.04. The total for both proposals as presented in the board packet was $79,769.13.

County staff said the IT director, Mister Morrison, briefed the board and reported that the county had received a limited number of proposals and that compatibility with the county’s current architecture was a key consideration. Morrison told the board that other proposals would have required a major system upgrade; staff recommended the single compatible proposal to avoid a larger infrastructure overhaul.

A board member raised a legal question about whether the procurement complied with bidding laws given a single proposal; staff responded that, under the described circumstances, multiple bids were not required. The board moved, seconded and approved the purchase by voice vote.

The purchase order will proceed under county procurement practice; staff will return to the board if any change to scope or budget is required.

The board did not discuss a separate financing mechanism; the packet included the vendor estimates and staff’s compatibility findings, which the board accepted for this action.