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Sherman County approves two-way texting platform to expand public communications
Summary
Sherman County commissioners approved a three-year partnership with the text myGov platform to enable two-way, text-based communication between residents and county departments; staff argued it can support emergency reporting and FOIA compliance. First-year costs were quoted on the record.
Sherman County commissioners voted to approve a partnership agreement with text myGov, a cloud-based two-way texting platform the county’s staff demonstrated at the meeting.
Ryan, a county staff member who led the demonstration, said the platform allows departments to receive texts and images from residents and to route messages and create work orders. “We did a demonstration for the text myGov platform, which is a communication platform,” Ryan said during the presentation. He described use cases including damage reports in disasters and routine reminders such as flu-clinic notices.
On cost, Ryan told the board the vendor proposed a one-time implementation fee and annual charges. “There’s an implementation cost upfront, which is $2,650. That’s a one time fee, and that is to build it out. So your first year, the total is gonna be $7,950,” he said on the record. He also said the county could expect an ongoing annual fee quoted in the discussion at $5,300, and that the vendor proposed a base messaging allotment with small fees for blocks of extra messages.
Commissioners asked how the new tool would relate to the county’s existing emergency alert system, Code Red, and whether the system would preserve Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) obligations. One commissioner asked, “Are you are you referring to the Freedom of Information Act?” and staff confirmed the platform would support the county’s FOIA compliance.
After questions about integration with the county website, caller tracking and potential message overages, the board moved, seconded and approved the text myGov partnership agreement by voice vote.
The vote authorizes county staff to proceed with the three-year agreement described in the presentation. The board also discussed continuing the current Code Red subscription while the new platform is built and evaluated; staff noted Code Red’s current renewal cost on the record.
Next steps: staff will complete the vendor onboarding and return with any significant contract details or unexpected costs as they arise.
