The Knox County E-911 Board on Tuesday agreed to pay a consultant
almost $40,000 to determine the best direction to take its emergency
radio system.
The move comes after months of debate that started
when a selection committee picked Harris Communications and then the
board refused to award the company a $9 million contract.
Instead,
a number of members suggested the county should stick with Motorola
Solutions, which has served the E-911 Center for more than 25 years.
Then
members started talking about joining a state-operated system, so in
April they sought out a consultant to determine if that was the right
course. The problem? The company officials picked wanted additional work
and roughly $225,000 more than the center was ready to provide.
So,
back to the drawing board, and on Tuesday a new consultant – Blue Wing
Inc. out of Pennsylvania – was picked out of eight companies that
submitted proposals.
The 911-Board will pay Blue Wing $39,725. The
firm has roughly 30 days to come up with its recommendation for the
board, which meets again Oct. 21.
“In reading (Blue Wing’s)
proposal, it seems like they’re doing exactly what it is that we need,”
said Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, a board member.
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