At this month's Russell County LINK Board Meeting, Board Member H.M. Bottom, updated the board on an insurance claim and quote to replace a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) unit damaged during thunderstorms in April.

"KACo (Kentucky Association of Counties) did well (with our claim) but then they've always been good to deal with," said Bottom. "I told (Interim 911 Supervisor) LeeAnn (Roy)  to…go ahead and order the stuff for (the CAD unit)."

He said the quote, from InterAct Public Safety Systems to replace the storm damaged CAD has a problem because the company has indicated any additional time will be charged at $175 per hour.

Any additional charges would not match the amount presented in the claim he said.

Bottom said the technician said he believes the work can be completed for the quoted amount but there is a possibility of needing additional hours if there are unforeseen problems.

"He gave us a price for coming down here for $450 plus so much time," said Bottom. "Well, if he's ever put (a CAD unit) in before, he should know about what it takes to put it in."

Bottom was concerned about the possibility of having additional charges in excess of the original quote.

Discussion followed as to whether or not a service agreement would cover the expense; however, Roy said the service agreement only covers software and equipment under warranty.

The CAD Unit was purchased in 2006 and is no longer under warranty Roy said.

She said InterAct Public Safety Systems is the only service provider for the CAD unit so there's no other option.

Russell County Attorney Kevin Shearer suggested setting a limit to the total amount charged for the work.

"Could we not put a ceiling on that extra work," said Shearer. "I mean, if he's the only show in town, we can't go anywhere else…we may need to negotiate…can you at least say it ain't gonna go above this much?"

Necessity of installation of the CAD unit was priority in discussion that followed.

"Well, we're talking about $200 - $400 more, we might as well go ahead and have it fixed," said Russell Springs Police Chief Joe Irvin.

Even if InterAct Public Safety Systems offered a ceiling it may still be in excess of what the board deems reasonable he said.

Irvin said if the company sends an outrageous bill "that's what we have the county attorney here for."

Shearer agreed the work needs to be completed with supervision and communication between InterAct, 911 Dispatch, and the LINK Board.

"I don't disagree with Joe from the standpoint that he may give us a ceiling but it may be $5,000 just because he can be arbitrary (because) he's the only show in town," Shearer said. "It may be that we just say that we agree that they do (the installation) but if it goes above what you all have quoted us, we need to know…so we'll know what all is going on."

Irvin advised the board to move forward with the work and to have someone monitoring progress so the board will be notified if the time spent on installation starts to exceed the quote.

"I agree with Kevin," Irvin said. "Let's get it done and if it starts to exceed (the quote), (Roy) ought to be there and say 'Hold on I'm going to get approval.'"

The board voted unanimously to accept the quote and schedule the CAD installation.

Russell County Attorney Kevin Shearer and a Russell County Constable requested a User Agreement with 911 Dispatch's access to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

Some discussion was held regarding duties of constables in Russell County and whether or not it is necessary for constables to have access to NCIC.

"My question is, why is it needed by (constables)," said Shearer. "Because as we're set up today, unless the fiscal court changes it Monday night,…(constables) have no power of pulling anybody over with a blue light."

"I just don't think we're set up for that now."

Shearer said he would follow up with TAC Officer Sondra Wesley about completing a User Agreement for the county attorney's office, ask her for a list of others who currently have user agreements in place, and report back to the board at next month's meeting.

Russell County Judge Executive Gary Robertson announced his plan to discuss a restructure of the county's EMS and 911 Dispatch Service.

"We'll probably address (Enhance 911 Organizational Restructure) Monday night or start the process," Russell County Judge Executive Gary Robertson told the LINK Board. "We've got some figures from other entities and I've got my proposal that I'm going to submit to the fiscal court and then to all the entities and we'll start the process and decide what we're going to do."

No discussion among the board followed Robertson's statement.

The LINK Board also did not discuss any information regarding developments since the special called meeting held Friday, May 13th when the issue of possible unauthorized overtime and double coverage at Russell County 911 Dispatch was brought to their attention.

In other business:

• Russell County 911 Dispatch is no longer on probation.

• The six month probationary period that we were on for the LINK and NCIC - we have now passed that six month probationary period," said LINK Board Chairman Tony Wright. "We're off probation."

• Wright said the board was notified they will receive CMRS (Commercial Mobile Radio Service) payments August 1 for $7,302.68 and August 15 for $19,794.46.

• The Trimble GPS unit has been repaired and returned to the 911 center.

• Interact Cad map has been updated.