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LaSalle County committee backs rapid‑alert system and courtroom panic buttons, recommends finance approval
Summary
The LaSalle County Public Safety Committee voted to recommend that the finance committee approve one‑time purchases for an AlertSense rapid response alert system and courtroom panic buttons, asking staff to obtain vendor documentation to confirm there are no recurring fees.
LaSalle County’s Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the finance committee approve two one‑time purchases to expand rapid alerts and panic‑button coverage in county buildings.
The committee approved setting up an AlertSense rapid response console for dispatch and the EMA office at a presented price of $5,336, and approved $2,232 to install dedicated panic buttons in judge’s rooms and courtrooms. Joanne moved to recommend the purchases to finance and Ray seconded; the motion carried on a voice and later roll‑call vote.
The purchases are intended to provide “one‑touch” emergency alerts that do not require entry of a code and that ask for user confirmation to reduce accidental activations. The system presenter described the AlertSense unit as able to preset incident types — for example, tornado or active shooter — and to integrate with the county’s existing phone alerts. “I was told it’s a one‑time fee,” the sheriff’s office representative said during the discussion.
Committee members pressed for written backup. “Just as long as they have backup instead of just this — a contractor agreement or an invoice to support these numbers, that it’s only a one‑time fee and it’s not an annual fee,” Craig said. The presenter said he would work on getting documentation.
IT compatibility was also discussed. Committee members worried whether the system would work across Windows and Apple devices; county IT said the rapid‑alert signals now cross to Mac systems and that existing active‑shooter pull stations were fixed to communicate with Apple computers.
Committee members asked that staff obtain vendor contracts or invoices showing the purchase is a single, non‑recurring cost and to clarify any maintenance or support terms. Ray asked whether the county would receive any maintenance checks to ensure the system continued to function; the presenter said he would seek that information.
The committee’s action was a recommendation to finance for purchase approval; no final procurement contract was signed at the meeting. Staff said IT would perform the installations if approved and would coordinate integration with the county’s AlertSense phone notifications.
The committee moved on to other sheriff’s office procurement and animal control items after the vote.
