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Waite Park council authorizes 10-year Axon contract for tasers, body and fleet cameras
Summary
Council authorized a 10-year, bundled Axon contract for police tasers, body cameras and fleet cameras with staff proposing a $600,000 down payment and an estimated $416,000 total savings over earlier drafts; one council member recorded a dissenting vote.
Waite Park City Council voted to authorize a 10-year contract with Axon for tasers, body-worn cameras and fleet cameras, with staff describing the purchase as a bundled deal intended to stabilize equipment replacement and reduce long-term costs.
A city representative summarized the contract as a 120-month agreement with a total cost reported in the meeting as $1,194,374.66. Staff proposed covering a $600,000 down payment using available budget savings from unfilled salary and benefit accounts; the presenter said the current draft of the contract yields an estimated $416,000 in savings compared with an earlier draft.
The presenter outlined replacement cadence: body cameras are scheduled for replacement about every 2.5 years (four upgrades during the 10-year contract), fleet cameras are replaced at year 5 and again at year 10, and new tasers will be provided at the end of the term. Staff estimated implementation and shipments typically begin within 30–90 days after order, with the first contract payment scheduled for December 2026 under the proposed payment schedule.
Council discussed logistics and timing for rollout and training. A motion to approve the purchase and to authorize the mayor to sign the contract was moved, seconded and called; the transcript records at least one opposing vote when ayes were requested.
The council did not attach new ongoing local funding outside the proposed down payment; staff said budget offsets and existing budget lines would be used to fund the upfront payment and scheduled contract payments.
