E-911 Board still seeking radio consultant after last one bailed

E-911 Board members

Chalk this one up to either being a greed-head or just the pure enjoyment of wasting everyone's time (heh):

A consultant that was supposed to help the Knox County E-911 Board determine the best direction to take its radio system wanted additional work and roughly $225,000 more than officials were ready to provide.

So, now it's back to the drawing board.

County emergency personnel on Wednesday again agreed to let a consultant determine whether the area would be better off building its own $9 million radio system or joining a state-operated program.

This time, however, officials want to give firms at least a month to submit proposals, and they won't cap the dollar amount to do the work.

In April, board members approved a similar proposal and hoped a firm could make an assessment for no more than $25,000. The bid went out for only 10 days and just two firms – both from Georgia – responded.

The county then negotiated what officials thought was a solid plan with Tusa Consulting Services, in Decatur, Ga. The firm, according to board members, suggested that it wanted to do more work and for more money - as much as $225,000 more.

Tusa then ceased negotiating with the county once officials said the deal was for one contract only, according to Knox County Purchasing Director Hugh Holt.

On Wednesday, the board decided to try again.

For the rest of the story, RIGHT SMACK HERE.