Sheriff presents dispatch option

Jay County Sheriff’s Office is inching closer to overhauling its dispatch system.
Sheriff Dwane Ford went before Jay County Council on Wednesday night to discuss a contract with Motorola for a new system, which is part of a partnership with Adams and Wells counties and the City of Bluffton.
It will cost $343,745 to purchase the new system.
“If you remember, when I first mentioned this, it was going to be $600,000 to $700,000. Then another meeting, I mentioned it would be around $500,000,” Ford told council members Mike Leonhard, Gary Theurer, Mike Rockwell, Jeanne Houchins, Bob Vance and Ted Champ.
The current system will no longer be supported beginning in 2018.
“I know it’s a lot of money. I think we are kind of stuck in this … our radio system is pretty much obsolete. We are going to have a hard time getting parts and equipment for it in the next couple years,” Ford explained.
The contract with Motorola also includes an additional 20-year maintenance package, which begins in year two at a cost of $21,866 and gradually increases over its lifespan, topping out at $32,843 in year 20.
Currently, the sheriff’s office pays $6,634 annually for maintenance. However, the Motorola package would include software updates and replace computers and monitors every four to six years, which isn’t currently included in the system’s maintenance package.
It cost the department around $15,000 to $20,000 in 2010 to replace computers for its current dispatch system.
Ford said the partnership with the other agencies will allow insurance in a case of emergency.
“It’s a backup system also. If worse would be worse, a tornado goes through and hits our jail or dispatch system, we would be able to go up to Adams County or Well County,” Ford said.
One concern discussed Wednesday was funding of the maintenance costs, which would total $521,614 over 20 years. One option explored was the possibility of acquiring a loan, with Vance suggesting Ford get two or three estimates from local banks and bring them back to council.
County attorney Bill Hinkle also suggested Ford reach out to Wells County to see if the terms of their contract are consistent with Jay County. Adams County has already approved its contract, Ford said.
Motorola is offering a $40,000 discount on the contract until Aug. 15, but Ford suggested that deadline could possibly be extended.
Meanwhile, highway superintendent Ken Wellman went before council to seek funds totaling $510,510.85 to complete summer roadwork. That total includes $299,510.85 to complete 51 miles of chip and seal work, $175,000 for the grinding of a 3.5 mile portion of Como Road between the Randolph County line and New Mt. Pleasant and $36,000 for the purchase of a new boom mower.
Wellman did not submit his request in time for the funds to be appropriated at Wednesday’s meeting, but council approved a motion indicating they’d approve them at their next meeting.
Wellman said after the meeting that chip and seal would continue before council’s next meeting by using money currently in the highway fund.
Near the end of its hour-and-half meeting, council briefly discussed Jay County’s 2017 budget. The conversation followed themes stressed in Monday’s Jay County Budget Committee meeting by looking at ways the county can raise its year-end balance.
Auditor Anna Culy mentioned the council might look into scaling back benefits for part-time employees like county council members and Jay County Commissioners.
“That’s an area where we can save money,” said Houchins, who is also a member of the budget committee.
Champ said council needs to be stricter when it comes to dolling out additional funds.
“What has to happen is we have to continue on the right direction but we also have to say no once in a while. Every one who comes up here, including myself don’t want them to leave mad so it’s, ‘Oh OK, you go ahead … yeah, we’ll take it out of here,’” he said.
In other business, council, absent Cindy Newton:
•Approved $22,536 in additional funds for the Drug Free Communities initiative, $11,343.50 for Jay Superior Court’s substance abuse program, $7,000 for waste management, $30,000 for Jay Emergency Management Agency to update radios and $6,500 to pay for recent maintenance work.
•Heard from Jay Superior Court Judge Max Ludy that by the end of 2017 the courts and clerk’s office will have to go to electronic filing of records. Ludy told council to keep that in mind for future computer maintenance funding.
•Heard from Mike Wright of Redkey Town Council, who asked if the county’s contract with Bill Fields for dog catching could be reworded so he can work in Redkey to help with its loose dog problem.