Sheriff Lowell Griffin said the current software used at the 911 Communications Center is not only outdated but unstable, lacks customer support and is frustrating and time-consuming for staff.
The board unanimously approved a software system from Southern Software to replace existing Tritech software, which has been used since the '90s.
To pay for the update, a budget amendment was passed to move $589,414 from the IT Depreciation fund into the Capital Projects fund.
Of that total, nearly $310,000 is 911 fund eligible, Assistant County Manager Amy Brantley explained to commissioners. The funding is subject to 911 Board approval based on prior projects approved.
To begin the project now, staff requested that available funding in the IT Deprecation Fund be utilized for budget purposes, but offset by 911 funds actually received.
Southern Software, a North Carolina-based company, was selected with input from all emergency service partners, meetings and several hours of research, according to Griffin.
Many surrounding agencies also use Southern Software, which will allow the county to quickly share and manage data across jurisdictional boundaries, the sheriff added.
The Hendersonville Police Department, Transylvania County Sheriff's Office, Polk County Sheriff's Office and Haywood County Sheriff's Office are a few of the nearby agencies that also use the software.
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