Council greenlights PowerPhone purchase and approves transfers to cover strained communications budget

Communications Director Gary LeTourneau requested fund transfers within bond accounts to purchase PowerPhone EMD dispatch software, citing a total cost of $56,320.30. Council approved a transfer of $14,259.25 from the 2010 Bond to the Communications Phone System line so the purchase could proceed; the remainder ($42,061.05) will be paid from the 2013 Bond, as recorded in the minutes.

Auditor Kim Koomler told council that the County General Communications budget had been strained by recent turnover and that line items would not hold through December without internal transfers. Council approved Statewide 911 transfers of $35,000 and $10,000 (to move funds into extra‑help and contractual lines) and also approved Communications County General transfers totaling $21,800 to move money into overtime and bring accounts out of negative balances.

Dan Caruso moved approval of the bond transfer for the software purchase; Ruth Beer seconded and motions carried with recorded ayes. Council directed departments to track future overtime payments from Statewide 911.