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County considers TextMyGov messaging pilot; legal review and corrected invoice requested
Summary
Pottawattamie County staff presented a proposal to pilot TextMyGov for outbound county messaging, starting with an estimated 23,556 household phone numbers (roughly 58% coverage of an estimated 40,000 households) and a 2025 price quoted at $9,000 plus implementation fees; board asked for attorney review, clarification of area‑code coverage and a corrected invoice and asked staff to bring the item back next week.
Kate Gerber, the county’s public relations manager, requested permission to explore a pilot subscription to TextMyGov, a mass‑texting service marketed to local governments. She said the vendor estimates an initial database of about 23,556 household phone numbers within county boundaries — approximately 58% of an estimated 40,000 households — and recommended starting with an outbound‑only approach so the county would not be responsible for handling inbound text requests until other departments could commit resources.
Gerber said the company quoted a 2025 subscription price of $9,000 per year and an implementation fee that, with an advertised discount, produced a first‑year cost in materials of roughly $13,500 (boardors asked for a corrected invoice to reflect the discount). She said the county’s IT department had vetted the platform for security; she had not yet had the contract reviewed by the county attorney and had asked the vendor about an early‑termination clause for the three‑year initial term.
Supervisors raised questions about area‑code overlap (712 vs. 402), whether the vendor provides names with numbers on import, reporting and retention metrics (Gerber cited an initial retention rate above 90% in vendor materials), and potential usage by other county departments including EMA (which already uses Alert Iowa for emergency notifications). Several supervisors asked that the county attorney review the contract and that Gerber return with a corrected invoice and answers about opt‑out/termination provisions; the board agreed to place the item back on the agenda next week for further action.
