Call the meeting in order and stand for the pledge. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Okay, we got the Grant County Sheriff's Office here for our meeting agenda. I will make that motion, Mr. Chair, to approve the agenda. Second motion and second to approve the agenda.
Any discussion? All in favor? Second by saying I. Oppos? Carried. Go ahead. Morning. Morning. Um, thank you for having this special meeting.
Um, um, I just wanted to go through um, I think you guys received a packet. Um, what's the followup questions? If we want to go through that or does anybody else check, can we request the
presenters to hold up front so I can hear my computer? just wait. He went to get his computer. Oh, okay. You go ahead. Um, does everybody have the packet?
Is there any other questions that you guys might have or I was thinking I would just go through kind of like each document that I sent with you guys. Yeah, that would be good. That's good. Okay. So, the first page is the the document that says
with all the questions and answers number one is the history of Axon. Um, as listed, you know, it's it's a company that's been growing every year since, you know, 1993. that's um they just keep
adding to their products and their AI um advancement um that there's a lot of notable agencies at least 300 individual agencies in the state of Minnesota are actively using Axon bodywn cameras or
the fleet system. Um question number three was that we wanted to know like the individual costs of each of the package. um that's quoted if if we were just to buy them out um you know individually
um you can see it's um a considerable amount lower and this does include the after July 1st the AI bundle goes up another $66,000 in a 10-year contract. So, uh, so a total
unbundled cost for everything would be $971,58. Um, yeah. And I the sheets that were provided to you last session was the 5year and 10-year contracts. um the five-year contracts
and the 10-year, there's a a price increase of a 4 to 12% inflation rate if we went with the fiveyear or if we waited and did this a different view. Um
I know somebody had asked about the July 1 deadline if that was like set in stone and it really is. that's Axon has been um advertising this for for many months um that it just has to July 1st is the
date for the AI bundle. Um and we can go through what we can go through the quote individual line item if you wanted to. Um I know that there was many questions about is this a lease or is this or do
we own the equipment and we own the equipment. Um it it acts as a lease because we're getting the updates at five or two and a half, five, seven and a half and 10, right? Um it acts as a lease and I think some um individuals
might use that term loosely as a lease just because it kind of acts like a lease, but we we own the equipment and um you know it's ours to keep. The software obviously um has to be updated. So, we don't own
the software. We, you know, at at the end of a 10-year contract or end of a fiveyear contract, we have to update that software. Um, but we can keep the equipment that we receive.
Um, I know that there was a question asked like where where could we like try to save money? Um, you know, in the quote and they do offer um
a body warn camera like it's at four right now and they they do offer the three but it doesn't integrate some of the AI functions um what we were looking for. Um, and then people had questions about the
Stevens County contract. Um, and so I I did have a lot of good um, information from their coordinator and as well as their chief deputy. Um, so they do have a 5-year contract. They're about two and
a half years into their five-year contract. So they have the older equipment because there's new stuff and they haven't been able to update it yet. Um I know that um they have the body warn camera and then the fleet systems. They do not have the AI functions but
they are looking into purchasing that like all cart um which is going to be substantially more because it's not included with their bundle. Um and then they would have to get everything upgraded to make so that the
AI can integrate into their software. Um I know some people had said that their They thought that they had received grants and so I did look into that further. Um it was not grants, it was the public safety aid funds that they used and that we got from the state.
Right. Correct. Y and um and also with the the disbanding of the Morris Police Department, they were able to receive Morris PD's um public safety aid fund. So some of that
money was put towards that. Um, so I have been working with Chandler with Axon. Um, I think we talk daily, if not more than once a day. Um, and so we
they were able to give us another $40,000 discount on top of what he'd already received from what we were quoted um last Tuesday. Um, so that with the exclusive discount it would be a total of 128,768.
With an O was the bundled it would be $199,28 um for a 10-year contract. So John and I um we have been working with Chad um and looking at how we can integrate this into our budget going
forward. Um so the first line item is $22,000 and that's from the BGA grant that we received. Um that grant was a match. So, we would have to match that. And so, we have
decided we would put $26,156 into that. And then the sheriff's office is um willing to give some of our public safety aid money um to go towards this. So,
the uh the grant from Ben was 22. Then you said Grant County put in 26, but that's out of your office too. that is out of our office and then the so both of those categories yes the 86,156
would be the total um would be our contribution okay so that would bring bring it down to um or if you add all that up it's $108,156 um so then you take that off of the 759
and that we would be at 650,934 okay what was that Number one, uh 650. Okay. 934. So if you look at the spreadsheet that Chad and I Yeah, I see. Yes. Um so then we um
you know take that into nine additional years. It's $72,326 would be the payment. Um, we wanted to look to see where in our budget week would be cost-saving and we did find that the WatchGuard maintenance
fee. Um, we would no longer be utilizing WatchGuard. That's our fleet system at right now. Um, and that is $22,814. That was this year's payment. Um, which is an annual payment.
And then the taser cartridges, we pay about $740 a year for taser cartridges. Um, so that would bring us down to $23,554. So if you subtract that from the 72,000,
um, it would be 48,772. But we also want to take into consideration currently with our watchguard with our fleet system we have a server that we have to put the data on and those
servers are good for three to five years most the time. Um um and those are about $22,000 right now with you know everything is going up with inflation. So, um that would be
about 66,000 within a 10-year um time frame that we would have to pay to upgrade a server if we didn't have, you know, this. We also had an upgrade um to this the WatchGuard uh software software
and that was $8,000. And then um if we had to individualize and buy the taser it would be $136,000 and this and with the in in squad cameras
to be replaced is $251,000. So I just we didn't put that in you know the $48,000 but these are things that we just wanted to should also be considered. Well, okay. And then
regardless of whether we do this today or not, down the road, you need all this stuff. We do. So, it's so Yeah, I I see what you're saying there. Yeah. But if we go with this system,
this 43,000 a year, as the cameras need to be updated stuff, that just come that just comes with the servers. Uh uh we have no servers. It's all cloud based, right? But I mean that's that's all included.
Yeah. But if we if we don't do this, we're going to have to update servers and cameras because we're going to get the cameras. I mean there's hardly any agency without cameras anymore. Right. Right. So
and tasers. We have to update taser because they're old. They're extremely old. Nope. Um, you know, we've been beneficial or we we've benefited from other departments grabbing new equipment and
we're buying their use. Um, and we're getting by um we're, you know, but just moving forward, this these are all things just like we need ammunition. we need to start getting this into our
budget and you know and this software it's new to us you know this equipment this is new to us you know we haven't had squad cameras for that long you know so this is all new to us and so I think just
moving forward this is just a necessity that needs to be done um so if you want to go we can go through the the quote we can go line by line if you would like or or if you have any questions.
I had a couple, you know, these cameras that are in the cars, you know, how much view have you got a lot of times like, you know, you end up stopping a car or something like that or they there's three there's three different views on the current camera systems in so there's
a a backseat uh full view of the back seat and then there's a a zoom camera and also a wide angle camera that are out front. So you got a big a panoramic view basically from the sides of the car
forward and then also so there's three technically three cameras per right but that traditionally covers a stop but how many times have they been away from that where they you can't see them in those views. How many times that happened in a given year? Well, it depends. Um, if
you're by yourself, if you're by yourself and you bait an arrest and anything out the right front or left front of that squad car, if you're putting somebody in the back seat, um, outside that squad car, there is no coverage. Body cameras would change. It would.
Yes. Body worn cameras. deputy walks into a building and there's something horrific in there, it's all there. It's all documented. It's not The video and audio are documented. Correct. Yeah. And uh
I don't think he could, you know, that type of evidence is crucial. That's for sure. Right now, the way it uh works with our current in squad cameras is each one of the deputies has a wireless mic that they uh wear on
their vests. Now, the wireless mics still pick up away from the squads. So, if they enter a house or something like that, we still have the audible recording or audio recording. Uh but that that too, it's it's hit and miss at times with with the connectivity. Um so
at least we have the audio but we do not have any video where you did have the body worn cameras um the video and audio are always there. So the server you had mentioned that we would still
have the need for the server. So apply I think you talked to Chad. to apply. How long do we need to the three to five year average replacement? Um, okay. What was your question? Well, if
if you pull this component off the server, how does that apply to the 3 to 5 year average replacement? Because you're capturing all the cost, but we'll still have that survey s server. So, help me with that, M. So we're we're
um our CAD RMS system is also going on the server. Um but you know we are also looking at upgrading that as well. Um upgrading the server or some other system. Yeah. Another
because our CAT RMS system is they're not maintaining it anymore. That's but that's just that's another that's a whole another conversation and that's what let's focus on the server. Yep. And because now we're talking
cloud-based and I that was the other question I I'll ask it. You could weave into it. Is if this is a lease, are we also leasing the cloud-based storage or do we own that or how's the what's the longevity of the cloud-based
piece? Now what's the component as far as the need for the current server in ratio to a 3 to 5 year replacement? So it's not a lease, it's we own it. Um so once like once our contract if if we
did go ahead with the contract once the 10 years is up then they would work like if we don't renew that then we would have to find a server to put all the data that we have in evidence.com which is axon. We would have to they would integrate they would help us integrate
it into a server. So we would no longer have cloud-based storage with Axon at 10 years if we didn't continue. Correct. Yeah. At that point
could we assume then at that point the server we have now would it be large enough we would have to purchase something? No. It would be it would be 10 years down the road for a server for that type of space. Um I I would hate to imagine what that cost would be. So
okay, so that so now let's go back to the $66,000. Yep. We still will have that server, right? Will we need to replace it? No. So the the current server that Jen is
referencing was specifically purchased for the use of WatchGuard system storage. Okay. And last year. Yep. So that was last year that we spent $22,000 on that server. Okay. So, if we move
away from WatchGuard and move away from having to store anything on that server and go all cloud-based with Axon or evidence.com, we would not have to replace that server anymore because there's no additional data that is going
on it. Now, with that being said, um that server is quite large and it belongs to Grant County. Okay? So, that server can be utilized for other means for storage by the county by the sheriff's office however
you know it would be agreed upon and then I guess the question would be is you know does that have to be replaced for some reason moving further down the line but I think that would be more of a countywide question and it would be
specifically the sheriff's office I don't see hope in your notable agencies using it. Do they don't do that though? No, they have I believe that they're using WatchGuard. Okay. So, and they had in their body cameras
or they in the car? No, both. Both. Also, I'll reference the fatality that was in in Cyrus. You know, was that a critical that they had body cameras on them for that case moving forward for training purposes or whatever? I mean,
did did it help the investigation there? I mean, you know, it was conclusive from the beginning, but I mean, what I'm driving at is did they learn from it having these body cameras on some of the the dos and don'ts and you know what I mean? you know, and I, you know, it's
not an open investigation that, you know, and I don't really care to get into the detail that no. Um, you know, but with these cameras, I would assume it's only going to help. Yeah. Yeah. With the cameras, it it's collecting evidence, but it's substantiating
what people say. Um, and uh those those cameras are they're just very valuable. That's all I can say. Cool. If you want, we can go um to the quotes and on the second page is
the payment schedules. Now, Axon is very easy to work with and they can you know if we don't want to do uh you know the payment schedule that they have listed
we don't have to um we can we can they can tailor it to whatever we need. Um you know we decided it would be nice to bring the price down. So, you know, we provided, you know, the $108,000 for the first
year, and we thought it would just be easier just to budget, you know, 72,000 for the next 10 years. Um, but that this can be tailored to whatever whatever we need. Um, it's at least 10% that is needed. I see. They were willing to take
that payment the 1 of November. Is that what it says? Um, yes. Yep. So yeah. Um, so that 108 then that was that was kind of your thoughts on putting that
108 down right away in the right. Yeah. In the beginning. Um, you know, first thing because we had the $22,000 from the BGA grant that we're that we will receive um with the traffic. We have a traffic
diversion fund that we are going to exhaust which is the 26,156 and then we're going to use 60,000 of the public safety aid money. So bringing the grand or a total of 108,56.
Is there more public safety money other than the 60? Can't be much left. Is there? Yeah, there there is uh some left. Okay. right now. I don't know. It was earmarked for stuff like this. It
was one time money, right? Did Did you want to go through the quote or is there any It's fine. Thanks. This is I mean this is taking out a
group taking this out. This is just for um so if you look under the program um it says the fleet 3 basic and tap. Um so the fleet 3 basic and that is the
the squad car cameras. Um now I was told um I said this is you know quite expensive. Um and so um they said the tap is what
is the renewing of the so every 5 years the fleet 3 is updated the the equipment is updated and then with the tap that gives us another update at the end of the contract. So you're potentially
buying the new the newest product before our contract ends which you know in the long term of things you are saving money because now the next contract if we get into one you
know we don't have to purchase the new because we already have it. So, I'm receiving 2025 prices for 10 years down the road for the newest of whatever they have. So, obviously, that's going to be a cost savings. Now, if we wanted
to get rid of the tab, that's the upgrade at the end of the contract, it would be $44,000. We could take off. But if you think of that, you you might save $44,000 now, but in 10 years,
you're going to have to buy new equipment, which is going to be more than $44,000. So, in the long run, we're saving money, but if if we had to, we could um exonerate that tap the renewal and then we would just
pay more 10 years in 30 35 36 Um the bundle is the officer save safety plan and that's um tasers and that's our body warn cameras put together. Um
and then the axon um that's for the tenure of anything that they come up with like just this year they came up with three new programs. So we can see the way that AI is progressing you know it's it's moving
faster than than anybody can you know purchase. So we are receiving any AI function for 10 years at this price. you go down to the alakart software. Um
obviously the licenses we can't really um get rid of the axon community request. This is um um so when a deputy or John or I are out
and we receive somebody has evidence on their phone, we can send a link to them and it it'll they can upload their information to Axon right now. So it would be less time for us to having to, you know, take a picture of it,
upload it to our computer, then upload it to the software. That's something that can be provided to the public. Yeah. Not not just officers. Yeah. Um and with that, it's kind of being more
proactive. Um you know, if there was um a case where something we had to take a picture of it on our phone. Um you know, our that becomes evidence, right? our phone becomes evidence this way, you know, which we could that can
be taken away from us and it'll be discoverable as evidence. So this way it kind of eliminates that and it's just it goes right to right to the cloud to evidence. The system insulates the phones. Yep. Yep. Yep.
Um and obviously we need the performance licensings. Um the first one is the Axon evidence redaction assistant um per data request that uh using the AI equipment.
It's amazing and I I think it's going to save our records um ladies a lot of time and savings um cost savings. So, and then if you go down to the alakart
services, the PSO virtual training, how this was explained to me is that uh with the taser tens, you receive like a virtual um they're goggles. Kind of goggles.
Yeah. You put it on your head and it it shows you scenarios. um it's quite difficult to set up and so that $2,000 isn't um it's someone helping you try to set that up. So whether it's Axon or it's MEI, you know, I think it's going
to be pretty like similar similar cost. Um they take it they said it's quite extensive and it's difficult to to do. So Yeah. The back then community request, was
that where they had something on their phone that could be uploaded? Yep. Or let's say there was something like a a business has a camera and we needed that footage, we could just send them a link and they can upload it to that. So, it
it'll make things easier for everybody. Um, right now sometimes we have to come there with the USB, download it to the USB, and then we have to try, we have we'll call MEI to try to figure out which format it's going to open up with and how it can integrate with our
systems. This way with Axon, it's just Axon does all the hard work and they can get the right format to make it play for everybody. So, you're saying that it's going to help all the county attorneys time, too? county attorneys, pro prosecuting, defense attorneys, and I I
know that Justin receives, you know, state patrol, DNR, he already has an access to Axon. It really streamlines, makes everything so much easier. But would you say the transfer of the data is much different when it's transferring
from a whatever scenario to axon as it would be to a USB or to another heart rate? The transfer data be any different? And would the outcome be any different since it's originating
from the same camera? different. I don't It's not going to be It's not going to change it. Well, the reason I'm asking that's $16,000 if the camera the clarity of the picture
in the moment and what we're talking about is $16,000 to streamline how we move that video or that evidence to a something. The outcome's the same. Does it feel
like a lot of money? Yeah, I I see what you're Yeah, I see what you're saying. Now, um the redacting and the license I mean I see performance I know there's just wonder how many times in our county that feels like a lot of money. Yes, the
outcome is the same. The outcome would be the same. That's I guess is the easiest the easy quick answer. I mean eventually we would have it in where we need it as far as in our case or
something to that extent. Yes, it's sometimes the time associated, I guess you could say, where uh the deputy has to make arrangements with the business to have access to their system uh in order to take a thumb drive uh to
do the download and then bring that thumb drive back to our office and turn it into office personnel to then put that into the system. That's where the streamlining comes where now it's like
um Ken here's the link if when you have a chance send your video to this link and then it's automatically there for everybody to see immediately but I but I understand so it would be up to the let's call the store owner it would be
or a whole video ring doorbell it would be up to that person then to originate the transfer via a a link that's supplied. Correct. Yeah. And I And that's with any any recordable device, you know, like cell phones, the
Ring doorbell, the camera system, security, any of that stuff. And there's so many different formats like there's a lot of times where we have to call MEI, can you make this open for me because we can't get it or you know Justin might
have issues or but I do I do agree that it is it is expensive and yeah what isn't well yeah and you know a year from now 10 years from now all of these you know
everything is going up. So, is that available for doc fs too? It is. Yeah, it is. And it streamlines it to one one place. So, when it when it comes to data
requests or getting things ready discoverable for for court, we we only have to look in one place and there's all of our evidence. Makes all you guys more efficient, right? There's there's less room for error or
suggestion that you know a deputy or an investigator miss something right you know copy machines jam they do you know they
um we have difficulty in some circumstances with you know surveillance videos getting downloaded and you know when it's ends up happening which you have a a deputy recording
what shows up you know and everyone's time is precious in the you know it's 16 grand but that's spread over 10 years yeah
paintings Is there any other questions? But I in the long run we're really not something. Yes, we don't. What we were discussing is is that last upgrade for software that tap
the end of the 10 10 year contract. Um certainly we would have no idea what that cost could be 10 years from now. Um you know I guess the question is is that something that uh if acceptable by the
board um you know do we do we deduct that at this point and and hope and pray that costs haven't gone up so bad in 10 years that something justified 10 years down the road instead of spending that
$44,000 now. Well, you you're really hooking your horse to them and hoping that they don't. Yeah. And although is there a true value in that or not? I don't know.
You know, he Chandler did say that our quote right now is 759. If we waited two years, it's likely going to reach $1,210 for this exact same thing. So, have a healthy shot. You know,
you know, this is what we're looking at. If we stay with ax on you sweet and I do realize it's a lot of money but I don't I feel like these are necessities that going forward and with the advance of technology and Grant
County Sheriff's Office getting on board with the advancement of technology. I think this is going forward. This is, you know, we we budget for gas, we budget for ammunition, we have to budget for tasers, we have to budget for these. And so
I just wanted to say and also the moving forward what you're budgeting now is some of this already in the budget 20 we're doing our 26th budget now. Some of these costs for some of this stuff in the budget already.
And so if you want to we can bring up our budget too. One of the handouts I have the uh from 2023 to 25. Um we just wanted to highlight that we have always been under budget. Like in 2023 we were
was it 303,000 under budget. Last year we were 49,000 under budget. So we keep pretty strict you know with our budget. So, so like going forward, would you just
budget extra or would you where would this come from? Well, we'd have to we'd have to sit down and look at um you know, line item by line item as far as where you know, equipment, trainings, you know, things like that come from. um
see what those differences would be in those line items because you know equipment is pretty broad. Um so that's where we we'd start looking and
uh you know whether there would need to be an increase within that line item or not or within the budget period. Um, you know, if you base it off of previous years and beat under as we have, there may not be
such a large increase, you know, to the levy as far as what our potential number could be. One thing I I think this is a huge opportunity
and I think it's important obviously the 48,772 that we recognize obviously that we're using $108,000 of our existing money to get it to that. But the other opportunity
is I know because we discussed trying to move in a direction where we utilize our committees and I guess I think to make knowledge that Jen and John have done a lot of work. It appears
the program is sound. Uh I struggle a little bit with like one of the our constituents says doing the right thing the wrong way doesn't necessarily make it right. And I my concern is that the public safety committee and the budget
committee we haven't utilized our resources in relationship to how we should run this county. Um I think it's coming too fast. I think it's someday we'll it's it looks like a
great program. I just struggle that we haven't used our resources when it comes to the decision-m process being those two committees. Well, you guys did bring it to the budget and finance committee. Yep. So,
we sat in and looked over some of the same documents that you're showing today, you know, and without the additional $40,000. Right. Right. We since since last Tuesday, we received another $40,000, right, discount and
after after next Monday, it's going to go up because of the AI, which is $66,000 a year. That's quite a bit. Well, my concern was that uh you know it was unbudgeted, but when I I see what we
can put towards it, it's somewhat budgeted because the money was there in areas where to be used, you know, for public safety. This is a public safety issue and if we
wait it's going to just cost more money. I've seen that my whole career here. You know, we I've seen waiting waiting waiting and at the end it's a big price tag. And uh there's certain situations that are going to happen in Grant
County. Even though some people think nothing happens in Grant County, it's going to happen. and we need to be right on top of that with evidence collection and just systems that help everybody involved get through these
deals. So, so I'm going to make a motion that we go ahead and do this and uh and uh so that's my motion that we go ahead with this um proposal.
Okay, we have a motion. We we get a second. I'll second it just so we can further on the discussion here. And you're talking 10 year now, right? Yep. 10 years. Okay. We can't put a price on, you know, the
elevated heightened security that you guys need and the level of technology that has to go with that. that comes at a price and we're all going to pay that price. But, you know, we can't put a price on deputies heads or even you guys, you
know what I mean? Just because they just don't have the tools to be able to do their job. And this is just the sight of the times. It is. And I I think it um as I know not everybody likes the word retention, but I do feel, you know, our
we have a lot of younger deputies and there's a lot of fear. There's a lot of fear out there and this is a safety network for them and I I do think it's going to help with retention on top of transparency with the communities, right? I've seen some of
these videos that, you know, as far as these stops, you know, that's all over X and all that stuff of how things are happening and you got to, you know, you got a wide array of responsibility when you get out of that car and ch, you know, a lot of times, you know, they're
moving off where you're not even picking up what's happening, you know, and all of a sudden they come back into view again. Well, car car cameras just don't cover us anymore. I don't know if you guys agree with that, but I that's what these videos are showing. And I don't I'm not there at
those stops to see just what, you know, we're lucky to live out here. We're low population, so it's you know, and I I would have to believe that the courts eventually are going to want this. They probably don't require it now. I don't know that, Justin. Well, it's part of anything that we have that we would
present in the case is considered evidence, right? So discoverable. So it is. So it that's just an an addition. moving forward. Okay. When squad video came, you know, the number of hearings
that we had testing the validity of this stop went to zero because it's on video that the vehicle up to five line went over the the center line. And
you know, it's you know, if If the deputy goes to a domestic, you know, and writes in the report, you know, the alleged victim was scared. You know, it's tough to describe
emotions. it's a lot easier to see it, right? We've seen an uptick in um you know people
claiming that they have been you know mistreated by a deputy you know one we had the body camera because the DNR was there you know and that easily went
away as it should. Um, you know, and if somebody was mistreated, it's also a tool that would protect the public. Well, and and I agree 100% with all that. But what I don't know that I
accept is that we're asked to weigh in on something. We got this grant six and a half to seven months ago, months ago, and we get two weeks. I don't question anything as far as the
safety, everything you're presented. The problem I have is I know there's other departments that come for a request and I asked our staff, is it in your spreadsheet? Is it budgeted?
Yes. And so here we are today and we haven't utilized our committees and we're asked to weigh in on something that I think is really important and I having that at our feet
is not fair because seven months ago we got a body cam grant and we get two weeks to decide. I it's just on how we move forward in this
county, what we're trying to get to. I said this is a huge opportunity and it's not only the opportunity to move forward with what you're presenting, but it's also the opportunity to ensure that we always do our due diligence and that the financial due diligence of
this county is respected because we know there's a lot of cuts coming potentially. And to not weigh in on on what we're going to look at when it comes to a preliminary budget would not be fair.
has no reflection. Thank you for the work you've done. I think it's it's wonderful, Jen. But that's not the chair that I'm sitting in. I'm sitting in another chair going, where's the fiscal note on this? And so my thoughts there,
we we will be looking at the uh you know, we're going to start doing that. there there's some areas there where I think we can pick up a little bit of this money next year without bottom line putting that levy
percentage up. So, but I do think this is a critical stuff here and uh I do think you guys have done a good job and uh so that's where I'm at. fully supportive
of it and cooperating agencies are going to appreciate us moving forward with it because they might need our data for some of their cases. So when you can mesh this together on a state level, it's easy to use. It's that's it is a
big ask, but you know it's it's a cooperating thing that that they're probably going to want to use some of this data as well. And if we don't have it, then we stand there and rather go to well you can look at that the counties there a lot of small companies there that have this big stone Norman Red Lake
Yellow Medicine Redville Douglas Steven Ale so just a thought for fellow board member I'm with you why haven't we had discussions about Why
haven't our committees presented? Why? If it's this important, have we not used our available people? Why? Because these guys have been busy and so have we. Well, well, I think they have. But didn't this just come up?
Yeah, maybe I can. There's a timeline. They didn't know about this eight months ago. You know, a little more light. Well, they should this was this thing was been available since 2020. I saw in your data it's right just show up. No. Correct. So
going back to earlier conversations being that we have WatchGuard which is a motor which is Motorola base or own now. Okay. Um and since we had gone with the latest um server upgrade that we talked
about the 22,000 plus software upgrade which was 8,000. So we spent 30,000 on that. We when when we started talking about body cams um we only focused and looked at Motorola. Okay.
Um and the grant uh dollars, you know, as you know, we had said earlier that yes, uh the board was absolutely right in the
fact that um we should have been in contact with the board more often or at all regarding this grant. Uh the grant came up relatively quick. Um we were probably more pessimistic than anything about even receiving it because we were
told that uh never in the history that a small agency like grant would have ever received that grant dollars. Those generally went to LAPD or NYPD. So we were surprised on that. And so
once that grant money came in, that's when we started having obviously the conversations with the board then because of the 50/50 match. And that's where yeah, we we do understand it caused problems because now all of a sudden that $22,000 that we're asking
the board for is a surprise to the board. Where was these discussions? Where were these discussions prior to the ask? Right. So, after I just stop for a second. Yep.
You're saying the 22,000 grant match is the surprise to this board. How about the 700? No, I'm I'm getting I'm getting to that point. Okay. So, um so because I'm just trying to run through some of the history here and how we ended up
here. So, um, so with that being said, yeah, um, we come to the board and and ask and and present this this grant and what we're looking at through Motorola for body warrant cameras. As we move further on through this project, we start to find out that
Motorola, as we've said before, was not, I would say, almost forthcoming with us as far as what their package entails, what's available, what isn't available. um or here's your overall cost. Oh, by
the way, you would need another 8,000 for this. Oh, by the way, you need another 10,000 for that. And so, Motorurora to us um clearly showed that this was not a good uh relationship when
it came to them providing body warn cameras uh for this office. Um and then so we started looking at other avenues and that was that GTA product uh which we weren't impressed with uh because of their lack of uh customer support
service. However, they said here's a price for the body warn cameras and squad cameras. If you're looking at bundling something, you know, have code four up in Pelican Rabbits install them. Good luck with it. And so Axon is, you know, um, next in
line. And that's how that thing grew, Ken with, um, you know, let's look at body warn cameras. Okay. Now, this is the price for this. We have to look to the future as far as we got to upgrade our
squad cameras. Now, we need to look at that price. Axon is taser. So, we have to upgrade those. That's how that whole thing moved along. And before you know it, they say, "Well, here's a bundled price for this
amount for these products, and this is where you sit." So, um, back when we had our budget and finance committee meeting, um, we did bring that to their attention that now all of a sudden what
went from $55,000 roughly for Motorola just for body worn cameras now went up to $7, you know, 59,000, whatever the the overall dollar amount was. And um now I know that that um budget and
finance committee meeting was in close proximity to the next board meeting and uh we were asked by that committee to certainly come to the next meeting which we did and and present on where we were
at. So that's that is the history of it. So, and we've explained that before, like, you know, we know that this was from the get-go, we were kind of behind the ball because we didn't think we were going to
receive the grant and but we still needed we still needed these upgrades. I mean, we are we were just getting by with the help of Ottertale, Nobles, and Bigstone counties making our fleet work, making our tasers work.
I have a question, Mr. Chairman. How many public safety committee meetings have you had in the last seven months that would address what John just said? I don't think we've had any about the I wasn't I there was one that I wasn't at but the last or the last one but other
than that there was but I can't understand why they only two they only like will allow you two or maybe three weeks for to hold the price and that's just because of the July 1
with that going ahead going forward because of the July 1 price increase. You know, they they're willing to work with us, but just knowing after July 1st, it's going to go up $66,000 for the AI, you know, and I don't know if we
will get the exclusive discount of $128,000. We could possibly lose that. So, do you think that July 1 deadline was put out there to all of the Oh, it is perspective. Uh there this was a package promotion that they're y putting
out there. Is that what they're doing? Yep. Yep. And it's probably the last year at least six months. I mean, it's nationwide. This is Axon AI is going to go up. Do I think we have set up to it? Have
you looked at pricing this through Sourcewell that cooperative buy? Okay. So, I've I've talked to Chad because I we are not familiar with source. We've never done this. It is it is a competitive quote and if you look on the last page of the quote, it talks about
the language from Sourcewell. So, this is a source. It is. Yes. Okay. Yep. Yep. So, um I know Chandler really went out and and found that um I think Highway uses Source Well quite a bit. Um and we
we've never dealt with anything with I' I've looked into Source Well for funding for grants, but we're outside of their range. But yeah, but it is a competitive quote. Yep. and it well I I fully support the
program. I do not support the process and we apologize for the process. You know, we had no idea that this was going to go anything like this. Um, and I'm sorry for the time frames. Um, but whether we we wait and it's going to
cost us more money, you know, I get it. It it is a lot of money, but it is a necessity. And if if I think if we wait longer, it's we're it's only going to cost us more
because the need is still there. Exactly. And I and I think this is just from here on out like technology and equipment is going to be the number one line items in our budget going forward because we
can't work without these. So Mr. Chair, when is our preliminary budget finalized or due? September. End of September. So the work that will commence to take place July 1,
July and August and September, we got 90 days of work and we're looking at $760,000. And I'm not can't say that something won't go up.
I just think it's so important that we respect the process that we're trying to get to utilizing our committees and the budgeting process in this environment. Once again, I'm going to compliment you
for the work you two. I think it's a good and I think we'll have the program someday. I just struggle. We're going to be backing into a granting or a budgeting process based on a decision today. That's my story.
Anybody else got any questions or any more discussion or Please clarify your motion. Delight. Okay. My motion is to go with this uh what's the name of the
board and uh you know do you guys got the is it the 10 year with all three yes 20 months 10 just wondering it's 10 in your contract with Amson to include
the bundle of three pieces of equipment plus KI. Yes. And what was the watch? 759 089 87. Do you have an opinion? Okay, we'll proceed to vote with a roll
call vote. Dwayne, yes. Ken, Bill. Bill, yes. Doyle. No, we just need more time for budgeting.
Motion fails. Thank you. Thank you. Meeting 11:07.