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Commissioners discuss moving from Code Red to Everbridge, tower leases and joint dispatch plans
Summary
Erath County leaders discussed switching mass‑notification platforms, tower leases and the planned joint dispatch center in 2026, and asked staff to refine recurring costs and lease arrangements tied to new radio core operations.
Erath County Commissioners Court on July 16 reviewed emergency management and communications plans, including a proposed change in mass‑notification software, ongoing radio tower lease costs and a multi‑agency joint dispatch project slated to begin in 2026.
County emergency management staff briefed the court on a proposed migration from the current Code Red notification system to Everbridge, saying Everbridge offers more user‑friendly tools and improved message management. Staff said a data transfer from the existing system will require a small, one‑time fee but that the county could suspend Code Red service once Everbridge is operating.
The court also received updates about radio infrastructure. Staff explained the county currently pays several tower lease fees and that some legacy leases (identified in the packet as CTI and IWG) will phase out when new core equipment is operational; other site payments would remain. Commissioners asked staff to provide precise recurring fee estimates for the radio core and to model costs under alternate scenarios because a recent third‑party change in fee proposals for a regional core has created uncertainty for partner counties.
Joint dispatch and staffing: staff reiterated a planned start for joint dispatch operations in mid‑2026. The city is expected to take responsibility for dispatch personnel while the county and city will share other costs. Commissioners and staff discussed governance, with an initial oversight board structure that has county representation and local public‑safety chiefs; staff said details on cost allocation and governance will be brought back as the project approaches implementation.
Cameras, site security and towers: emergency management staff recommended modest initial purchases for site cameras, backup power and hotspot connectivity at remote facilities and asked for contingency funds to handle unknown infrastructure work such as fencing or generator hookups at tower sites. Commissioners asked staff to obtain bids for decommissioning or remediating an older tower site and to bring that cost estimate to the next budget meeting.
Ending: staff said they will return with firm recurring cost estimates for the radio core, written proposals for Everbridge migration and cost modeling for the joint dispatch core fees so the court can consider those figures in the final budget.
