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CORTLAND -- City Council approved an $8,600 software purchase as an emergency measure so the police department can remain compatible with changes coming to the Trumbull County 911 system.
Council unanimously authorized police Chief David Morris to switch the department's records-management software from ID Network to Sundance Systems Inc.
The change follows an Aug. 26 vote by Trumbull County commissioners to move the county 911 Center to Sundance's computer-aided dispatch system. According to the city ordinance, the system will allow the center to better communicate with police departments throughout the county.
Cortland will pay a $2,100 annual service fee and a one-time $6,500 fee, bringing the first-year cost to $8,600.
Morris told council the Trumbull County 911 Center will pay for the department's mobile licenses, while the city's costs cover licenses for computers at the police station and transferring data from its existing records system.
He said Central and Eastern district courts also are covering the $1,200 cost of an electronic citation module through special projects funding.
Council approved the purchase as emergency legislation to allow the transition to begin immediately rather than waiting through the normal three-reading process. The ordinance says the expedited purchase is necessary to meet a 90-day implementation period for the county system change before Cortland's current software subscription expires Dec. 31.
"We don't want to delay getting the rollout with the center," Morris said.
GARBAGE TRANSITION
Residents also are beginning to see signs of the city's upcoming change in garbage haulers as Ohio Valley Waste Service prepares to take over from Republic Services Oct. 1.
The change follows months of discussion after the city's Republic Services contract expired. Council debated service levels, costs and whether curbside recycling should remain in the new contract before ultimately seeking bids with recycling included.
Ohio Valley submitted the lowest bid for the five-year contract. A household with two trash carts and a recycling cart will pay $19.65 per month during the first year, or $58.95 quarterly. At the May meeting, officials said the comparable Republic price would have increased to about $75 quarterly beginning in October.
Mayor Jim Bradley said Ohio Valley has begun delivering carts and expects deliveries to be completed by Sept. 26. Welcome packets also are being mailed with pricing and recycling information and instructions for residents who want to change the number of carts they receive.
Republic will continue collecting garbage through September and will contact customers about retrieving its carts.
Also Wednesday, council:
• Gave first reading to the purchase of a Ford Police Interceptor SUV, including ready-for-patrol accessories and installation, from Statewide Ford Lincoln Mercury. The purchase, through the state cooperative purchasing program, will cost no more than $68,000. Morris said production de lays mean the vehicle likely will not arrive until the middle or second half of 2027. The department recently sold a 2019 cruiser to another police department for $23,500.
• Gave second reading to an ordinance adopting an updated official zoning map for the city.
• Heard from Morris that two vehicles were broken into and another was stolen from a driveway over Labor Day weekend. The chief reminded residents to lock their vehicles and remove valuables.
• Heard fire Chief Todd Price report the department will return to full career staffing.
• Heard a report that crews completed a storm drainage project on Glen Eagle and are installing a new stormwater system on Topaz to address flooding following heavy rains earlier this summer.
• Heard that construction of the outdoor event center on West Main Street remains on schedule for completion by the end of the year.