Oliver County to apply for grant for AEDs and reassigns deputy phone to weed board

Commissioners agreed to seek Community Foundation funding for new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for county vehicles after the sheriff's office reported existing AEDs are expired or nearing expiration. A staff member said the sheriff asked whether AEDs could be funded instead of the comprehensive-plan project, and commissioners concurred the AED purchase would be a wiser use of the grant application.

The staff member cited quotes for replacement AEDs at about $2,100 apiece and said the ambulance service and courthouse use the same units. "I think it's about 2,100 a piece," they said.

Separately, the commission discussed whether the new weed-control officer needs a county cell phone and whether county employees should use personal phones for work because of open-records concerns. Commissioner (S1) moved to reassign the deputy assistant's county phone to the weed board until the deputy decides a different phone is necessary; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. County staff said they would coordinate switching the phone and email account.