Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County approves $13,290 calling-tree to keep 911 lines for emergencies
Summary
Isanti County approved a $13,289.99 contract to add a calling-tree to administrative phone lines so dispatchers can focus on emergency calls; staff said the package includes onsite training and will not affect 911 service.
Isanti County commissioners voted unanimously to approve a phone calling-tree for the county's administrative lines, awarding the purchase after staff said the quote from the vendor came in at $13,289.99.
The feature will put a recorded prompt and menu in front of callers to route routine requests to records or other county departments and reserve live dispatchers for 911 calls, County Captain Chad Meyer told the board. "When I did get the quote back, I was in shock. I saw $13,289.99," Meyer said, adding the price includes onsite training for supervisors and sergeants so staff can maintain the system.
Meyer said staff did not solicit competing bids; he noted the county's existing phone service contract is with Lumen (CenturyLink). Commissioners asked whether the system would affect emergency calls; Meyer and dispatch staff said it would not — 911 calls still connect directly to a dispatcher. A county official added the change should reduce time spent rerouting non-emergency calls and free dispatchers to handle high-priority incidents.
Commissioner Christiansen moved to approve the purchase; Commissioner Westerberg seconded the motion and the board approved it on a roll-call vote.
Next steps: staff will proceed with vendor coordination and training. The board did not identify additional procurement steps in the meeting record.
