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Board authorizes staff to sign Motorola agreement for school radio amplifiers pending federal clarification
Summary
Madison County supervisors approved a supplemental appropriation of federal COPS grant funds for in‑school bi‑directional amplifiers (BDAs) and authorized county administration and the county attorney to sign a service agreement with Motorola, contingent on clarification from federal authorities.
Madison County supervisors on a voice vote approved a supplemental appropriation earmarked for bi‑directional amplifiers (BDAs) for school radio coverage and authorized county administration and the county attorney to sign a service agreement with Motorola, pending clarification from federal officials.
County staff said the work is funded by a Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) federal grant already in the county coffers. “We were awarded that money,” County staff member Jonathan said during the meeting. Jonathan told the board the county has the grant funds but had to wait for a reviewed service agreement from Motorola and legal counsel before executing a contract.
County legal counsel Hannon said the service agreement has been reviewed and revised to include standard county contract language. Hannon described the agreement as outlining equipment and costs by school and said the contract will not exceed the $450,000 the county set aside in the supplemental appropriation. “It’ll actually be for a little over $417,000,” Hannon said.
Board members discussed federal reporting and a recent pause on some federal disbursements. One supervisor said the board should require clarity from federal authorities before staff execute the contract. Jonathan said authorization from the board would allow county administration and the county attorney to sign the agreement if the federal clarification arrives: “Your authorization tonight … would give us that ability if that clarification comes to sign those documents and transfer that money to the sheriff’s account.”
The board approved the consent agenda, which included supplemental appropriation number 14 for the BDAs, and later approved a separate motion authorizing county administration and legal to sign the Motorola service agreement conditioned on receiving the federal clarification.
The county administrator said any funds not spent would be returned; staff added that they will not sign the contract until the federal government provides the requested clarity.
No timeline for installation was provided at the meeting, and the board did not vote to alter the grant or contract amounts beyond the contingency language authorizing execution if federal guidance allows.
