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Kerr County approves Everbridge emergency alerts, accepts sheriff grant and extends screw‑worm disaster declaration
Summary
Commissioners approved a multiyear Everbridge emergency‑notification contract to replace Code Red, accepted a $42,729 Operation Stone Guard grant for deputy overtime, and extended a local disaster declaration for the New World screw‑worm; court acted on multiple routine operational items.
Kerr County Commissioners Court approved several operational items at the June 22 meeting.
Everbridge contract: The court authorized the county judge to sign a multiyear contract with Everbridge Public Safety Communications to replace the county’s Code Red emergency notification system. The contract locks pricing for several years (three years with two optional additional years in the agreement) and provides features the sheriff’s office described as superior to the current service, including keyword/text subscriptions (for example, texting a keyword to a short number for situational information), QR code subscription options for temporary or location‑based alerts and other app‑based features. County staff said Everbridge will provide a trial transition period at no cost until October to migrate subscribers and market the new service.
Operation Stone Guard grant: Captain Gage told the court the U.S. Operation Stone Guard award (grant number 4899304) for 2025 was available to accept; the award amount is $42,729 and will fund overtime for deputies working the operation. The court voted to accept the award.
Screw‑worm declaration: The court voted to extend the local disaster declaration related to the spread of the New World screw‑worm; commissioners discussed the declaration’s procedural role (renewal is required after seven days and later on 30‑day intervals) and noted that state agencies such as the Texas Animal Health Commission are leading response and information for the public. The extension preserves eligibility and administrative readiness should county expenditures or local actions be required.
Other approvals: The court accepted RFQ responses for a part‑time contract county fire marshal and for real estate brokerage services (to be scored by a committee), approved a TAC property insurance renewal with a reported 13% premium increase, and approved seven budget amendments and payment of $1,053,921.68 in invoices.
What’s next: County staff will proceed with Everbridge transition communications, execute grant acceptance paperwork for Operation Stone Guard and maintain the extended declaration while coordinating with state animal‑health authorities on screw‑worm guidance.
