Geneva County approves 24‑month GPS tracking contract for public works equipment

The Geneva County Commission voted 3‑0 on Dec. 8 to authorize a 24‑month contract with Diversified Computer Services (DCS) to install hardwired GPS tracking devices on county equipment used by the Road & Bridge department.

County Administrator Cindy Williams said DCS will hardwire units to equipment and vehicles and integrate the devices with the department's CIMS program. DCS representative Dane Floyd told the commission the system can record when equipment is in use (including PTO engagement), store usage data for one year on the device with options for off‑site retention, and allow administrators to define geofences for districts. Floyd said the company offers multiple plan lengths; the price cited in the presentation was $20 per month per unit.

Why it matters: County staff said the system will help track equipment assignment and usage by district and support job assignment decisions. Commissioner Jeff Hatcher moved to proceed with a 24‑month contract; Commissioner Bart Wilks seconded and the motion passed 3‑0.

Commissioner Hatcher said the commission must adopt procedures defining who may access the data. County Attorney Phil Eldridge cautioned that coordination with the sheriff is necessary for law‑enforcement vehicles, saying, “that should not be an issue if it was not in real time but the Commission will need to work with the Sheriff on this since the deputies driving the vehicles are under his control and this is law enforcement which could involve confidential and or sensitive information.” The commission noted the sheriff's fleet would be handled separately from the county equipment covered by the contract.

Next steps: Commissioners directed staff to draft access procedures and policies to govern data use and retention and to work with the Sheriff's Office to define any law‑enforcement exceptions before implementation.