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Commissioners approve sheriff’s contract and discuss new training platform and dispatch agreement
Summary
The board approved a multi-year sheriff contract tied to policy/training software with a March 1 deadline for a discount; commissioners also reviewed an annual dispatch agreement and a proposed switch to a Virtual Academy training platform to replace PowerFone.
Sheriff-related contracting and training topped a section of the agenda as the board reviewed a proposed contract for policy and training technology and the annual dispatch agreement with the city.
Speaker 10 described a 5-year contract with renewal provisions that would lock in pricing and provided details on a March 1 customer deadline needed to secure a 50% discount compared with other states’ costs. He said the product includes an AI assistant to explain statute and policy language and provides linked statute citations, which the speaker said would help staff quickly find applicable rules. After discussion, a motion to approve the contract was made, seconded and recorded as carried in the transcript.
Separately, a dispatch agreement that had been budgeted but not yet paid was discussed; staff noted the amount was reflected in the approved budget and that the item is an annual payment requiring administrative processing to get to the city council.
Training: The sheriff’s office also proposed moving from the PowerFone training system to a Virtual Academy platform. The presenter said the Virtual Academy demo showed a platform that provides live tracking of hours and easier assignment capabilities. The price discussed ranged around $3,009 to $5,000 depending on configuration; no final contract for the training platform was in hand at the time of the meeting.
Quotes: "It's the guarantee of pricing...the attack is currently offering us a 50% discount...so we have to be a customer by, I think it's March 1, so that we don't lose that discount," Speaker 10 said when urging prompt approval.
"That is something that we are looking to try to help improve their training as well," Speaker 10 said of the Virtual Academy replacement for PowerFone, noting cost advantages and additional features.
Next steps: The sheriff’s contract will be finalized and signed as described in the meeting. Staff will take the dispatch agreement to the city council for signature following internal processing. The training platform proposal will proceed to additional review and potential contracting when a formal proposal/contract is available.
