Despite high cost, committee approves dispatch console purchase

By RICHARD JENKINS

rjenkins@yourdailyglobe.com

Hurley — After the sticker shock wore off, the members of the Iron County Board of Supervisors Finance Committee voted 4-1 Thursday to move forward with the purchase of two dispatcher consoles for the sheriff’s department.

The purchase will cost around $199,799 — although the price would have increased another $50,000 if the county doesn’t make the purchase prior to Nov. 21 — according to information presented to the committee.

“We can ignore the $50,000, but we can’t ignore the fact we need the (consoles),” committee chair Opal Roberts, of Mercer, said.

Darrell Petrusha, who deals with the county’s communication system, began his presentation to the committee by explaining he hadn’t expected the price to be as high as it was or that the need to purchase the equipment was as immediate as it was.

Petrusha said he knew the equipment would need to be replaced soon, as it was nearing the end of its life, but thought that the equipment could be used for at least two to three more years.

The current consoles were purchased in 2001, when the county jail was built.

Petrusha said that part of the reason the purchase can’t wait is because as the equipment reaches its end of life, Motorola stops manufacturing replacement parts, leaving the county without the option to repair the equipment should it break.

Petrusha said the county is already having issues finding replacement parts and there are only 15 more months before the equipment is considered totally obsolete.

“We can do this this year, we can do it next year, but no matter what, we are going to have to do it. We have to,” Petrusha said.

The county would also lose out on the price discount by waiting another year or two.

Petrusha called the consoles “the heart of the (department’s communication) system,” saying there weren’t many differences between the capabilities of the old system and new — other than the old system being phased out.

Supervisor Jim Kichak, of Mercer, was the lone no vote. He expressed anger not only at the price, but also the relative lack of notice that the upgrade would be needed.

“What makes me real mad is that if this was known about we could have at least planned and put the money in the budget to cover most of the cost,” Kichak said. “To be slapped in the face like this, I’m not real happy about.”

In other action, the committee:

—Approved creation of a new aging, disability and resource center position in the county’s Human Services Department. According to the information presented the committee, the extra position is needed to help handle the HSD’s large workload and won’t cost the county extra as the salary will be recouped through reimbursement for services and extra funding from the regional ADRC organization. The position would also deal with the county’s adult services.

—Gave the forestry committee, and other groups working on the project, permission to go forward with grant applications to fund the acquisition of the Soo Line railroad grade to develop trails in the county.

—Approved a recommendation regarding the salary and compensation package for the Human Services Director. The actual approval of the package will be approved at the county board meeting at the end of the month.

—Discussed the state of several properties in the county that owe back taxes. According to county clerk Michael Saari, the county will begin the process of seizing the properties in the near future if the owners don’t pay what is needed.