Decatur County commissioners voted on Nov. 17 to approve the purchase of new 9‑1‑1 equipment and a related support and maintenance contract, moves county staff said are needed to modernize emergency dispatch operations.

Leanne from the county communications office presented the contracts and told commissioners the equipment purchase price is $223,163.23 and the annual support and maintenance agreement will be $23,084.31. "Currently, we pay already 23,000, a little over 23,000 a year," Leanne said of existing maintenance costs; she added that the equipment price "is a big number, that 223,000. But that's already got half of that first year's maintenance already built into that as well." She also noted that "upon signing, we will have to put down 50%."

Board action: A motion to accept the purchase and sale agreement for the equipment was made and carried. The board also approved the support and maintenance agreement, a motion seconded and approved at the meeting.

Budget and next steps: Leanne said IT staff reviewed the contract and that the county will provide originals for signatures; commissioners discussed payment timing and noted the county will move and finalize journal entries in the spring as required by accounting procedures. No offsets or alternative funding sources were specified during the presentation.

The approvals allow the county to begin implementation subject to the contractual down payment and standard purchasing procedures.