WARREN — Commissioners on Wednesday approved the purchase of a $617,045 Emergency Command Vehicle from LDV Custom Specialty Vehicles for the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency for use by various county agencies during times when help is needed.

The vehicle is being purchased using American Rescue Plan funds that were originally approved in 2024.

Having a new command vehicle will enable the county to provide additional services to law enforcement, fire departments and other agencies during natural and man-made emergencies, as well as during some planned events. It will have the capability to house up to five 911 dispatch stations in the event the 911 center is temporarily shut down.

“This will be available to police departments when they have standoffs,” John Hickey, director of Trumbull County’s EMA said. “When we are looking for missing people, we will have communication. It will have TVs that can be used to show images from drones that are sent up during search missions. I can have as many as 30 people watching.”

Hickey said the county’s EMA board in 2022 gave him permission to research what would be the most essential needs of the agency. It was determined that obtaining an up-to-date mobile unit as one of the top priorities locally.

“What we had was a camper that was donated by FEMA after Hurricane Katrina,” Hickey said. “It worked for what we needed at that time.”

Although commissioners initially provided EMA nearly $1 million to obtain an up-to-date emergency vehicle, Hickey said the county does not require that level of vehicle.

“When we can save money, we will do what we can to do so,” he said.

The earliest the vehicle will be in Trumbull County will be late June. Once it arrives, the county will place its markings, as well as add radios and other equipment. Counties surrounding Trumbull, including Ashtabula and Mahoning, already have similar EMA vehicles in their fleets.

Trumbull 911 Director Tacy McDonough said it will be good to have this vehicle available because if something happens with power issues in the 911 building that interrupts services, there is no alternative for the 911 Center to continue operations.

“Having a planned vehicle would be ideal, so we would have a place to land, if something catastrophic were to happen with our power in our facility,” she said. “I know it will take time for him to get it, but, at least, then we will have a backup. Right now, we don’t have that.”

Commissioner Rick Hernandez said the vehicle will benefit the county tremendously.

Commissioner Denny Malloy said the need for an EMA command vehicle especially was highlighted during the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine and when the county needed a central communication point at the fairgrounds.

“This will be able to be utilized at festivals, fairs and any other crisis and emergencies,” Malloy said. “We allocated more than a million dollars for this.”

Also Wednesday, commissioners approved the purchase of 14 chairs for the Trumbull County 911 Center. These chairs are replaced once a year at a cost of $8,779.32.

Commissioners also approved providing $142,246 to replace servers and another $143,000 for the purchase of a replacement 911 recorder from Motorola, because the current Verint recorder is no longer supported because of its age and outdated technology.

The commissioners passed a resolution honoring Trumbull County dispatchers for their services as part of National Telecommunicator Week, which will be celebrated April 13 to 19.

They also voted to reject the passage of a fact-finding report between the county and a union with the Trumbull County Department of Job and Family Services. When asked about the rejection, Commissioner Denny Malloy said it was not in the best interest of the workers, the county or the citizens.

“I’m looking for them to come back with better terms,” Malloy said.

The union representing the Job and Family Services employees voted to approve the fact-finding report on Friday, according to John Gargano, executive director.