Dickinson commission approves 10-year Axon public-safety contract, flags longer-term costs

The Dickinson City Commission on Dec. 2 unanimously approved a 10-year contract with Axon to bundle the city’s body‑camera, interview‑room and evidence‑management technology.

City Chief Sione told commissioners the package combines multiple smaller contracts and adds upgrades such as dictation software and other system improvements. “This contract was a bundle of existing smaller contracts of technology that the police department has been currently using along with some upgrades,” Sione said during the presentation.

City staff described a multi‑year purchasing history. Sione said the department first acquired body cameras around 2021 and initially spent roughly $300,000; staff later estimated a stand‑alone camera contract would run about $700,000. He said earlier 10‑year bundle estimates rose from about $1.4 million to roughly $1.9 million, and that the most recent figure presented to the commission is approximately $2.2 million “as of January 1.”

Dossinger, the city staff presenter, said background work and budgeting for renewal have been ongoing and that the city has encumbered funds to cover the initial years of the new contract. Sione told the commission the immediate budget impact would be limited by those encumbered funds and that the contract’s “actual realized budget impact would come in 2028.” He provided a near‑term projected increase in the city’s base budget in 2026 of approximately $54,000.

Deputy Police Chief Hansen, who spoke about operational details, said the bundled package is sized to the department’s current staffing (49 sworn officers) and includes additional pro licenses (57) for evidence.com workflows, public submissions and redaction tools. “Part of this package is keeping the best equipment, best technology out there for these guys,” Hansen said, adding that device replacements (for example, newer taser models) are part of the long‑term plan.

Commissioner Riddle moved to approve the contract and Commissioner Murphy seconded. The commission recorded unanimous ayes and carried the motion.

What it means: The contract consolidates multiple technology lines into a single, long‑term vendor relationship and is intended to yield technical upgrades and integrated evidence workflows. City staff say near‑term costs are covered by funds set aside in recent budgets, while the larger, recurring fiscal effect will appear later in the contract term and will require future budget planning.

Numbers and transcript inconsistencies: Staff cited several dollar figures during the presentation; the transcript records those figures but with some overlapping or unclear phrasings. Reported figures included an initial 2021 camera cost of about $300,000, a quoted stand‑alone camera estimate of $700,000, prior bundle estimates of $1.4 million and $1.9 million, and a current bundle amount described as roughly $2.2 million. Chief Sione also referenced specific near‑term budget increases (figures in the presentation appear in the transcript as approximately $209,883 in one line and as a $54,028 increase to base budget in another). Those figures are reported here as presented to the commission; the commission did not provide additional written reconciliation of the totals at the meeting.

Next steps: The contract was approved on a unanimous vote and will be implemented according to the department’s procurement and budget schedule. City staff indicated further budget effects will emerge in 2028 when the contract’s longer‑term costs are realized.