Jackson County staff to accept grant for expo mass-notification system

County Administrator introduced a grant funding a new system at the county expo that would allow prerecorded messages to be delivered to people inside buildings and in parking areas.

The administrator said the project period runs from 10/01/2025 through 09/30/2027 and that the item is revenue-funded. "It's gonna have the ability to deliver prerecorded messages, in order to just really relay information to individuals inside the buildings and the parking areas," the County Administrator said. Staff characterized the grant as a public-safety communication improvement intended to provide broader emergency notification capability at the expo.

Board members asked clarifying questions about project scope and cost if the county or Fair Board chose a larger system; the administrator responded that larger-system choices could increase expense but that the current action is to accept the grant for the Fair Board project. The item was presented for execution through 09/30/2027 and described as revenue rather than a general fund appropriation.

The board did not take a final vote on other project details during the staff meeting; staff indicated further specification of equipment and final costs will be decided later and brought back to the board.