In a business move that will save the county over $7,000 per year, Brown County commissioners approved a contract with DeltAlert and will cancel their agreement with Code Red emergency management alert systems.

Code Red has been serving the county’s needs for weather and emergency alert notifications; however the county’s Emergency Management Coordinator Brent Bush secured a new provider, DeltAlert, who will now save the county more than half of the current cost.  Currently, Code Red costs the county $15000 per year, but the newly approved contract with DeltAlert will provide two years of the service for $14,750.  The DeltAlert service is being secured through a contract between Brown County and Jacosoft, LLC.

According to DeltAlert representatives and Bush, the new system will provide more features at a lower cost to residents living in the county.  Cities within Brown County will still be serviced through Code Red for their emergency alerts; although weather alerts are provided county-wide and serviced through the county’s provider.  According to Bush, these weather warnings will be reimbursed by each city.

Each of these emergency notification systems makes a phone call to county residents who are registered with the system in the event of an emergency.

The phone numbers registered with Code Red should be able to be downloaded into the DeltAlert system to avoid current subscribers from having to sign up for the service again according to Bush and his understanding of the transition to the new service.

According to DeltAlert and Bush, this system is being considered because it has more features and more information that would benefit the county.  Regarding the savings, Bush stated that “it just makes sense.”

In other matters on the agenda:

*Commissioners approved application for a utility easement along County Road 560, which will allow Thunder Bird Bay Water Supply to install a buried line from Brookesmith Special Utility District Lines to the Thunderbird Bay Water Supply along the right of way.  Currently there is a temporary connection between the two is a line that is lying on top of the ground.

*Approval was granted for employee changes in the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.  Patrol deputy Byrum Langley will replace John Fincher who was recently promoted to Sergeant.  Amanda Holmes was also hired as a jailer, Andrew Smoot was promoted to a Sergeant position.  According to Chief Deputy Duvall, there are currently two vacancies in jailer positions and another about to come open.  The jail count as of Monday morning was 153.

*Commissioners approved re-appointment of Tommy Petross to the Brown County Appraisal District Board.  Petross currently is a board member and has stated that he is willing to serve another term.