October 28, 2020 - A new communications console for the Shelby County Sheriff's Department has been OK'd by the County Commissioners, and at an even lower rate than originally projected during their emergency meeting held Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
The original inflated proposal had the commissioners looking at an almost $70,000 price tag for a complete replacement of a system that was absolutely going to need a repair since it was completely down, and that repair was going to cost in the neighborhood of $26,000.
"The difference in the cost of that and fixing the old stuff is just over $29,000 difference, so I think we're looking at spending instead of $55,000 we need to consider that we're only going to be spending a little over $29,000," said Charles Barr, Commissioner Precinct 3.
Judge Allison Harbison remarked the county is doing 'OK' regarding money as there was a lot left over from the previous year's budget.
"On the 4th we'll have SRA, they're going to be coming and giving us a grant of $50,000, so I mean we have some wiggle room," said Judge Harbison.
Judge Harbison said the funds to pay for the radio console replacement are likely to come out of the Sheriff's budget.
A motion carried by Tom Bellmyer, Commissioner Precinct 4, for estimate 1175 in the amount of $54,160 for the console and estimate 1178 in the amount of $1,600 for a VPN (Virtual Private Network) bringing the total to $55,760. Barr seconded the motion.
"I'd like to add that the money, whether it's in the Sheriff's budget or whatever, it belongs to the people in the county. It's their money, and I can't think of a better way to use it than for the safety of the people in our county and the police officers," said Barr.
Aside from Timpson VFD, who did not have representation, all other fire departments were present for the meeting including West Shelby County Volunteer Fire Department (Bradley Wilburn); Center Volunteer Fire Department (Rodney Mathews); Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department (Mark Odum); Huxley Volunteer Fire Department (Craig Hendricks); Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department (Chris Koltonski), and Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department (Perry Pugh, Jeremy Boyett, and Jessie Griffith).
All of the fire departments, with the exception of Center, will be dispatched from one channel unless they want to pay $5,800 to have their own channel connected to the dispatch console. Timpson VFD is the only channel that currently is dispatched through their own channel by the Sheriff's Department and with the new console changes, they will instead be dispatched through the general fire channel. Any departments that have their own channels, will then be expected to communicate with one another on their own channel after their initial dispatch from the Sheriff's Department.
Not all departments have an alternate channel which they utilize.
During the meeting Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, asked again if Timpson handles their own dispatch, or if it is handled through the Sheriff's Department. Timpson ceased handling their own dispatch in August 2013 partly to reduce expense of paying for two dispatchers since the county has a dedicated dispatch. A that time the City of Timpson issued the following statement (click here to view).
The meeting was adjourned at 11:08am.
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