Pacts would prompt funding - and more spending by Delaware County

The commissioners approved the first portion of what is likely substantial funding to pay for upgrades to the county's 911 emergency dispatch center.

"This isn't a want," Commissioner Larry Bledsoe said. "This is a need."

County 911 director Joe Winkle came to the commissioners with a request to approve a new contract with electronics supplier Motorola for upgraded equipment for the city-county 911 dispatch center.

Winkle said that current equipment "will be obsolete by 2017" without the upgrade.

The contract Winkle proposed Monday was for $651,000, but Bledsoe said the "grand total" of the upgrades will top $1.2 million. Money for at least part of the upgrade can come from a county public safety fund, Bledsoe said.

The upgrade is necessary, Winkle said.

"In 2017, we will not have a choice," the 911 director said.