County staff seek RapidSOS demo and to cover CAD billing backlog; commissioners ask for more detail

Casey McDowell, identified in the transcript as Trumbull County's 9-1-1 director, explained that item 5 on the agenda — about additional appropriations totaling roughly $438,000 — includes late invoices and renewals for the county’s CAD software plus other encumbrances arriving late in the billing cycle.

"All this, RapidSOS module is is for nonemergency call handling," McDowell said, describing RapidSOS modules the county is considering to handle nonemergency calls, provide improved location accuracy and supply translator and keyword-highlighting services to help dispatchers. McDowell said some bills were not received on the usual cycle; appropriation would bring the county current through June and cover known encumbrances.

McDowell described RapidSOS as offering more precise location data from a caller’s phone and modules that can translate calls and highlight keywords such as "weapon" or "injury" for dispatchers; he said the county has discussed a module that would transfer unanswered or unclear calls to a 9-1-1 operator. The transcript records an approximate annual cost for the RapidSOS module of about $40,000.

Several commissioners requested a formal demonstration. One commissioner said it would be useful for RapidSOS representatives to visit and present the technology before the board takes further action. McDowell agreed to invite the vendor to a meeting next week and gather more financial detail and vendor materials for the commissioners’ review.

The transcript does not record a final vote to approve the RapidSOS subscription at the meeting; commissioners indicated they would schedule a vendor presentation and revisit the appropriation after receiving additional information.