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Sheriff authorized to purchase new body cameras and to add traffic deputy funded by fines
Summary
The Board approved a five-year, NTE $99,640 contract for replacement body‑worn cameras and authorized a locally funded full‑time traffic deputy focused on US‑29 and Route 151; the deputy is expected to begin Jan. 1 and initial half‑year costs are projected to be covered by fines and forfeitures.
Sheriff Mark Embrey told the Board Oct. 8 that Nelson County’s body worn cameras—purchased in 2018—had exceeded their five‑year expected life, were failing, and would lose vendor technical support after January 2025. Motorola and Axon provided quotes for cloud‑based systems. The Board authorized the Sheriff’s Office to enter a five‑year contract with either vendor for 25 body cameras, equipment, and cloud video storage at a not‑to‑exceed price of $99,640 (Resolution R2024-71); the contract is subject to annual appropriation.
Embrey also asked the Board to authorize a full‑time deputy position devoted to traffic enforcement on U.S. 29 and Route 151, citing a cluster of recent crashes (including four fatalities on the Route 20 corridor in a single week) and school‑bus passing incidents identified by the county’s Supervisor of Transportation. The position is intended to increase visible enforcement along high‑crash corridors and operate during school hours.
County Administrator McGarry presented current fines and forfeiture revenue figures: the FY25 budget assumed $180,000 in fines and forfeitures; year‑to‑date receipts were $73,178 and projected collections for the year were $219,534. Using those projections, staff estimated that a half‑year cost to start the position January 1 would be approximately $38,213 and a full‑year cost around $76,426 (assuming higher health benefits in the estimate). The Board approved funding for the position using fines and forfeiture revenue (motion approved by roll call, 3-0 at the time of the vote). Sheriff Embrey said he would return monthly statistics to the Board to document enforcement activity and revenue.
The Board’s votes authorized purchase of replacement cameras and creation of a locally funded traffic deputy; details (vendor selection, contract execution, and implementation schedule) are administrative actions the Sheriff’s Office will complete.
