Commissioners approve $1,900 annual cell‑phone package for 911 communications

The board approved a purchase and plan to move 911 communications staff to department‑issued phones and keep a MiFi device for training, with an annual package cost not to exceed $1,900. Emily Yates, identified in the meeting as the director of emergency management and 911 communications, told commissioners the county previously spent about $2,085 a month on mobile/wifi services and that the new arrangement would save about $185 per year.

Yates said the department obtained four phones (for the director, the assistant, a communications staff member and one for the department) and kept the MiFi for training. A commissioner moved to approve the cell‑phone purchases and the motion carried by voice vote with a recorded annual total “not to exceed $1,900.” The board discussed replacement phone costs and contract terms; the transcript records follow‑up checks on replacement fees but no additional budget change was recorded.