DeKalb County commissioners’ committee on an administrative agenda voted to approve a series of procurement and grant items for police, fire and emergency medical services, and asked staff to provide additional budget and spending details on a multi‑year radio equipment contract.

The committee unanimously approved, by voice vote, purchases and contract extensions for a Forcemetrics information platform, radio equipment installation and maintenance, false‑alarm billing services, radio batteries and other emergency‑service supplies. Commissioners asked for a written reconciliation of prior spending on the Motorola radio contract and clarified the source of funds for several items.

Why this matters: the purchases affect frontline police, fire and EMS operations across DeKalb County and include both grant‑funded purchases and revenue‑generating arrangements. Commissioners sought clarity on contract scopes and past expenditures before final board action on some items.

The meeting opened with approval of committee minutes for the Dec. 3 meeting (agenda item 1675). The committee then moved through police‑services and public‑safety procurement items.

Police services
Chief Ramos described agenda item 1586 as a request to purchase software and related services from Forcemetrics “not to exceed $330,000.” He said the platform would let officers “go into one system and get all of the information from one source,” and that the $330,000 would be paid with grant funding.

The committee approved the Forcemetrics purchase on a motion and voice vote.

Radio equipment contract and spending questions
The committee approved a sole‑source change order (agenda item 1406) for radio equipment installation, maintenance, repairs and removal services, awarded to Mobile Communications America Inc., and extended the contract term through Dec. 31, 2025. The agenda materials and discussion contain inconsistent numeric figures for the requested total; commissioners asked staff to reconcile them before further action by the full Board of Commissioners.

Director Butler (purchasing) told the committee: “The total award amount was 2,400,000 per Oracle information. So far, spend is at $881,384.58.” During discussion a commissioner read the agenda language aloud and asked whether the requested contract cap was $2,832,000; staff agreed to provide a reconciliation and a rollout strategy that shows how and when vehicles will be purchased and outfitted. Butler said the requested supporting details would be provided to the committee by Tuesday.

False‑alarm billing and other police items
The committee ratified change order number 4 to a contract for false‑alarm billing and tracking services (item 1216), awarded to Superion LLC, with an amount “not to exceed $500,000” as stated in the agenda. The item description references OCGA 36‑60‑13 in the agenda packet. A department representative explained the contractor handles billing when repeat false alarms trigger fees. Commissioners noted the net revenue from the contract has declined since 2021 and discussed whether the decline reflected fewer false alarms or other factors.

Batteries, EMS billing and supplies
The committee approved a change order to add departments and increase funds for a contract to supply two‑way radio batteries (item 1290), awarded to Motorola Solutions, amount not to exceed $199,000. Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Ellis explained the increase reflects counts of batteries required by each participating department.

The committee approved an extension of the EMS billing services contract (item 0988) with Digitech Computer LLC (term extension only) and approved a six‑month extension for emergency medical supplies (item 1128) with Bound Tree Medical LLC, amount not to exceed $670,000, so Fire Rescue can continue purchases while a new bid package is finalized. Committee members asked staff to clarify Local Small Business Enterprise (LSBE) participation listed at 20% in the agenda packet; staff said they would follow up.

Fire equipment, grants and a mobile ambulance bus
The committee approved awards from a low‑bid invitational (item 1376) for engine and aerial accessories to multiple bidders (Williams Fire Apparatus Inc.; 108 Fire and Safety LLC; FireLine Inc.; ProFire and Tactical LLC). A substitute was provided in committee that reduced the not‑to‑exceed amount in the packet from roughly $5.2 million to $2,987,000 based on the equipment the department expects to procure this year. Chief Bull said the department expects to receive nine pumpers and three aerial trucks this year and the substitute aligns the contract amount to the equipment likely to be outfitted in the current year.

The committee approved an $8,899.92 award from the Georgia Trauma Commission for EMS trauma‑related equipment and approved a subgrant from the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) to help pay for a mobile ambulance bus and associated equipment. Chief Fulham (Fire Rescue) told the committee that a 2021 contract for a similar vehicle had been canceled when a vendor could not produce the vehicle and that Gwinnett County and the City of Atlanta already have similar units in operation. The mobile ambulance bus would be available for regional mutual‑aid use.

Votes at a glance
- Item 1675 — Approval of Dec. 3 meeting minutes. Motion: “Move to approve 1675.” Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 1586 — Purchase from Forcemetrics, not to exceed $330,000 (grant funded). Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 1406 — Change order to Mobile Communications America Inc. for Motorola radio equipment installation/maintenance (extend through Dec. 31, 2025). Agenda materials show varying totals; staff to provide reconciliation. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 1216 — Change order No. 4 to Superion LLC for false‑alarm billing, amount not to exceed $500,000, references OCGA 36‑60‑13. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 1290 — Change order No. 3 to Motorola Solutions for two‑way radio batteries, amount not to exceed $199,000; adds additional departments. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 0988 — Contract extension for EMS billing services with Digitech Computer LLC (term extension only). Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 1128 — Change order No. 2 to Bound Tree Medical LLC for emergency medical supplies, amount not to exceed $670,000; six‑month extension through June 30, 2025. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 1376 — Low‑bid awards for engine and aerial accessories to multiple vendors; substitute reduced amount to $2,987,000. Outcome: substitute and item approved (voice vote).
- FY25 Georgia Trauma Commission grant — $8,899.92 for EMS trauma equipment. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Item 0010 — ARC/UASI subgrant for a mobile ambulance bus and equipment. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

What commissioners asked for next
Commissioners requested: (1) a written reconciliation of the Motorola radio contract’s original award, spending to date and the requested cap; (2) clarification on LSBE participation for the emergency‑supplies contract; and (3) a rollout strategy showing how many vehicles will be purchased and when they will be outfitted under the radio contract. Staff committed to provide the Motorola reconciliation by the coming Tuesday.

Meeting context and next steps
Most approvals were voice votes with the chair and commissioners saying “aye.” Several items are extensions or change orders intended to bridge to new contracts or complete multi‑year procurements. The Motorola radio contract in particular will return to staff with requested clarifications before finalization at the full Board of Commissioners meeting.

Ending note: all actions reported here were approvals recorded on the committee agenda and taken by voice vote; the committee recessed and later adjourned after completing the listed items.