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Siler City approves police partnership to run record checks, projected revenue of about $210,000
Summary
The board approved a plan for the police department to perform third-party record checks in-house, a move officials said could generate roughly $5 per check and about $210,000 annually at the low end; commissioners approved hiring a records clerk and routing revenue for camera and radio replacements.
Siler City’s Board of Commissioners on a voice vote approved a plan for the police department to perform driver-license and record checks in-house through a proposed agreement with an outside vendor.
The police chief told the board the operation would require hiring a full-time records clerk and a second-shift backup and estimated the office could process 3,500 to 4,000 checks per month. “We’re estimating on the low end with 3,500 requests at $5 a request … this will bring in $210,000 in revenue,” the chief said, adding the funds could be used to replace body and in-car cameras and to begin saving for radio replacement.
Dan, identified in the meeting as a founding attorney for one of the firms involved, and Tom, identified as a company CEO, joined staff for the presentation. Andrea, a town administrative staff member whose title staff said would be changed to senior administrative support specialist to supervise the new records clerk, was also discussed as the person who would oversee the work and carry extra duties when the clerk is absent.
Commissioners and staff discussed logistics including staffing schedules (possible desk coverage until 11 p.m. or midnight), a salary adjustment for Andrea to reflect supervisory duties, and tracking revenue in a dedicated fund so equipment purchases would not create a single-year budget spike. The chief provided equipment cost estimates discussed at the meeting: about $247,000 to replace body and in-car cameras and a rough $600,000–$700,000 estimate to replace handheld and vehicle radios when the town makes that transition.
A commissioner moved that the town enter the agreement described in the presentation; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
The board directed staff to finalize contract details and return with the administrative steps needed to hire the records clerk and adjust staff titles and pay.
