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Albany County commissioners approve about $2.7 million in emergency-services and jail upgrades
Summary
The Albany County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved contracts and budget amendments to buy E911 translation equipment, a powered ambulance stretcher, cardiac monitors, an AV link for emergency operations, move ambulance-reserve funds for a new ambulance and upgrade the jail management system.
Albany County commissioners unanimously approved multiple contracts and budget amendments at a regular meeting, authorizing purchases of emergency communications and medical equipment and a capital upgrade to the county jail management system.
The most significant single item was an agreement with Intrado Life and Safety Solutions to add voice-to-voice translation capability to the county E911 Communication Center. The sheriff said the work and hardware — including 10 specialty computers that mirror 911 terminals — will cost "$446,000 and change" and will be paid from a 2020 Homeland Security grant with no county match.
The board also approved a $68,000 amendment to the sheriff's 2026 budget to buy a powered stretcher for an ambulance. The sheriff said the stretcher, which raises and slides automatically, "keeps from having people go out on disability and workers comp and everything else," and that the purchase will be paid from the department's ambulance reserve rather than tax revenues.
Other approvals included a $430,000 purchase agreement with Stryker Sales for cardiac monitor-defibrillators (bid 2026-047), a $380,000 contract with Audio Visual Corporation to expand the Emergency Operations Center audio-visual system and create a redundant link between Saint Rose and the Clarksville operations center, and a roughly $1.1 million upgrade to the jail management system funded through the county capital program. For the ambulance purchase, the board approved moving $253,000 from the ambulance reserve into the county vehicle line to enable the purchase of a new ambulance.
All motions were put and passed without recorded opposition. For example, the previous meeting minutes were approved following a motion by Committee member Bob, seconded by Committee member Gil; similar short, unanimous votes confirmed the other listed items.
Votes at a glance - Item 1 — Approval of previous minutes: Motion by Bob; second by Gil; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Item 4 — Agreement with Intrado Life and Safety Solutions for E911 translation equipment: Motion (mover not specified); second by Susan; outcome: approved (unanimous). Funding: 2020 Homeland Security grant; no county match. - Item 5 — Amend 2026 Sheriff's Office budget for powered ambulance stretcher ($68,000): Motion by Gil; second by Bob; outcome: approved (unanimous). Funding: ambulance reserve (not tax dollars). - Item 6 — Agreement with Stryker Sales for cardiac monitor-defibrillators ($430,000): Motion by Bob; second by Gil; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Item 7 — Audio Visual Corporation agreement to expand Emergency Operations Center AV system ($380,000): Motion by Gil; second by Bob; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Item 8 — Transfer $253,000 from ambulance reserve to vehicle line for new ambulance: Motion by Gil; second by Bob; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Item 9 — Upgrade to jail management system with Black Creek Integrated Systems (≈$1.1 million): Motion by Gil; second by Bob; outcome: approved (unanimous).
The meeting opened with roll call and a quorum was confirmed. There were no public comments recorded and no items were continued; the board adjourned after completing the agenda.
