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Mountain Lake approves temporary vacation accrual accommodation and Axon contract upgrades for police
Summary
The council unanimously approved Chief Louis Norell’s requests to temporarily allow LELS members to exceed vacation accrual limits through Dec. 31, 2026, to seek an Axon unlimited data plan and a possible 10‑year contract extension through April 2036, and to buy Axon virtual‑reality training at $3,943.80 over 45 months.
Police Chief Louis Norell told the council the department is facing staffing shortages related to Paid Family and Medical Leave that have made it hard for officers to schedule vacation time. To address the issue, Norell asked the council to temporarily allow Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) members to exceed their maximum vacation accrual limits during the current fiscal year, with the accommodation expiring Dec. 31, 2026; thereafter accruals would be capped at 200 hours and any excess hours would need to be used or forfeited.
Norell also reported the city’s five‑year contract with Axon for body cameras (which began in August 2024) includes 2 TB of cloud storage and the department is nearing that limit. He asked the council to allow staff to pursue an unlimited Axon data plan and to consider pricing for a possible 10‑year contract extension through April 2036. He additionally requested purchase of Axon’s virtual‑reality training program, which he said would cost $1,051.68 per year and $3,943.80 over a 45‑month term.
Councilmember Darla Kruser moved and Councilmember Andrew Ysker seconded a motion to approve Chief Norell’s requests. The council voted 4–0 to approve the temporary vacation accrual accommodation, to pursue an Axon unlimited data plan and 10‑year contract extension, and to purchase the VR training package.
What was authorized: Temporary adjustment to vacation accrual policy for LELS members through Dec. 31, 2026; staff authority to pursue Axon contract changes and an unlimited data plan; and procurement of Axon VR training at a total contract cost of $3,943.80 over the stated term.
Next steps and caveats: The council authorized pursuit of contract changes and procurement; the transcript does not record final contract terms, vendor approvals beyond council authorization, or a funding source beyond the contract language discussed.
