VAIDEN – The Carroll County Board of Supervisors approved the expense of $275 per month to improve the internet speed at the Carroll County Emergency Operations Center.
According to Carroll County Chief Deputy Adam Eubanks, the current speed of the EOC’s internet system is slowing down the operation of the new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
Eubanks said he spoke to a representative at Uptel, the county’s phone service, and when the phone system is updated at the EOC, Uptel will update the internet line as well, however until that time, the EOC can receive high-speed wireless from the fiber line at the Carrollton Courthouse.
Eubanks said the EOC is currently spending $80 per month for internet service, but the high-speed wireless will cost $275 per month, which will fit into the EOC’s annual budget.
“The current internet system is not enough to cover the entire building,” said George Gillespie, Carroll County’s 911 manager.
Supervisors asked Gillespie if internet service or or telephone service to the EOC went down, how the county would cover emergency calls. Gillespie said Montgomery County is Carroll County’s backup for 911 calls. If 911 service is not available, calls can automatically be transferred to Montgomery County, and vice versa.
The board voted to approve the expense of $275 per month on a 90-day trial period before signing a 36-month commitment for service.
In other county business:
• Beat 4 Supervisor Claude Fluker reported that a bridge on County Road 57 was closed this week due to “critical features found in bad pillars and frames.”
• The board approved a one-year contract at a cost of $30,000 with MCM prison consultants to assist with the ACA audit this fall at the Carroll Montgomery Regional Correctional Facility. The cost of the contract is covered by the current jail budget, according to Warden Brandon Smith.
• The board approved 80/20 matching State Aid projects in Beat 3, to rip rap along the side of Highway 480 near Acy’s Store, and in Beat 2, to rip rap a ditch on County Road 69.
• The board voted to include the Southern District in including a $25 fine on second notices of unpaid court fines. The Northern District has been adding the fine, and it helped in getting unpaid fines paid.
• The board accepted the resignation of Percy Norwood, Jr., as the county’s Veteran Affairs Officer, effective May 31, 2018. According to Norwood’s letter, his certification with the Veterans Service expires at that time. In addition, his replacement would have to be certified before taking over responsibilities of the position.
• Carroll County Recreational Park President George Johnson presented the board with financial statements for the last quarter of 2017.
• Carroll County Tax Assessor/Collector Wilton Neal informed the board that all volunteer firemen, certified for three years or more, can receive a $100 discount on car tags.
• The board voted to allow two clerks at the tax office to attend training seminars in the coming months.
“I feel that investing in employees is investing in the county,” Neal said.
• Chancery Clerk Sugar Mullins informed the board that the courthouse was not informed of recent planned power outages from Entergy, and because computers were not shut down properly, two Chancery Clerk office computers were damaged in the process. Eubanks said the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department had a computer damaged as well, but it has since been repaired and is back operating.
Eubanks informed Mullins that a backup battery was installed on the sheriff’s department computer to ensure the computer doesn’t go down if the power fails. If the power does go off, a generator will automatically power the building, however, it is not immediate. The backup battery will ensure a seamless transition from power to generator.
