The Webster Progress-Times

WALTHALL -Supervisors have accepted a quote from a new company to provide Webster County with all E911 equipment and maintenance needed for the emergency service.

This action came at their March 5 meeting after Jim McCreary, president of Precision Communications of Amory, presented a quote for the equipment, including all required radios, towers, consoles, 911 telephone switch and mapping.

Casey Weeks (District 5) made a motion, seconded by Charles Rivers (District 3), to purchase the equipment from the company for a total price of $176,593.34 and enter into a four-year service contract for $18,564. The county will pay the bill after Oct. 1 in the next budget year. The first year of maintenance is included in the equipment purchase price, therefore service will be provided for five years total.

This total quote includes backup E911 equipment to be installed at the sheriff's office for $23,352.27. A grant received by the Sheriff's Department will pay for that equipment.

The motion passed 4-0; board President Larry Crowley was absent because of having to go back into the hospital for treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia. No competitive bidding or other quotes were required because the equipment, except for a few small items, is being provided at state contract prices.

The Board of Supervisors had originally voted in January to accept quotes for E911 radio and telephone equipment from Panola Communications of Batesville and BellSouth. However, it voted Feb. 5 to rescind the contract with Panola Communications for the radio equipment because the company would not provide it at state contract prices, as previously indicated.

McCreary met with the board on Feb. 20 as a potential vendor for E911 equipment. McCreary said he would provide a turnkey service, to include providing, installing and servicing all radio equipment, plus all needed equipment from BellSouth and contacting it for future service if needed.

As a result, supervisors voted afterwards to also void the quote accepted from BellSouth for the phone equipment because its quote was accepted with the understanding that it did not provide all necessary services and equipment, and was in tandem with Panola Communication's quote.

As previously reported, supervisors have discussed using the lower floor of the science annex building at The Wood Institute in Mathiston as the 911 dispatch center. Members of the 911 Advisory Committee met with Wood Institute Director Ron Barham about this and reported that he was favorable to providing the lower floor rent-free for five years. This would be pending final approval from the Women's Division of the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, which owns the property.

Supervisors expressed interest at their Feb. 23 meeting in leasing the entire building and Barham met with the Board of Supervisors on March 5 about the matter. Supervisors discussed with him the possibility of relocating the Justice Court office and courtroom, now located in the County Office Building in Eupora, to the second floor of the science annex. Also discussed was the possibility of providing office space for the county emergency management director and space for firefighter training.

In exchange for free use of the bottom floor, the supervisors agreed that they would be willing to pave a nearby parking lot as a requested concession. Barham said he thought the UMC Women's Board, through Wood, would be favorable to subleasing the entire building to the county but that some financial compensation would be expected.

Barham said he was to meet with Women's Division Board the next week in New York and would report back after discussing the matter with them. At that time, the board will readdress a proposed lease contract.

OTHER ACTION

In previously unreported business handled by the county board, supervisors voted Feb. 23 to enter into a contract for administrative services with the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District for the Hawkeye Glove Manufacturing access road. The city of Eupora has received a federal grant to construct the road and the funds must come through the county.

Minutes of the Feb. 28 meeting show that supervisors voted to:

€ erect "No Engine Brakes" signs on the highway leading into Bellefontaine.

€ pay a supplement to county 4-H Agent Julie Whitehead's state salary, retroactive to Feb. 16.

€ hire Vanyetta Holmes as a part-time radio dispatcher for the county jail..

€ repay various interfund loans.

€ approve a 16th Section lease for Bobby Pogue that had already been approved by the School Board

€ spread upon the minutes the financial report of District 2 Constable David Murphy.

The board meets again at 9:30 a.m. Monday.