HomeMy WebLinkAboutRequest to Purchase - ClerksTO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
MEMORANDUM
Board of County Commissioners
Kimberly A. Allen, Grant County Clerk
April 29, 2019
Dated this --7 'r"4 -day of , 2015_
Board of County Commissione s
Grant County, Washington
APpm�_e Disapprove
P _ 4 Dist #
,I. _'YOMK—Dist#2
rl',": Dist # 3
May 7th Consent Agenda Item - Request to purchase cell phones/user
plans for implementation of the Safety Center App
As you are well aware, there have been concerns about the lack of duress alarms for the
Superior Court courtrooms and Clerk's Office. This has been a concern since the
Board's decision to disarm and/or remove the old duress alarms in February of 2016.
These concerns were further brought to light after GR 36 went into effect in September of
2017 with minimum court security standard recommendations for duress alarms in
multiple strategic locations such as courtrooms and the Clerk's Office.
I have consulted on several occasions with Superior Court regarding the need to move
forward with "something" rather than "nothing" for duress alarms in the courtrooms.
However, Presiding Judge Antosz remains firm in his belief that the Safety Center App is
not a "duress alarm" as described in GR 36 and, therefore, Superior Court will not be
purchasing cell phones for use of the Safety Center App in the courtrooms. In addition,
Judge Antosz feels that since "the Clerks will be running them" that the Clerk's Office
should pay for the phones and maintain them. (Please note that Judge Antosz is not
opposed to the Clerk purchasing phones and will allow Clerk's Office staff to use the
Safety Center App in the courtrooms.)
I do not mean any disrespect to Judge Antosz, but I feel very strongly that it is every
department and everyone's responsibility to help with security and that it should not just
be the courtroom clerk's responsibility to summons help should an emergency arise in
one of Superior Court's courtrooms. Judge Antosz does not anticipate that the judges
will be using cell phones or the Safety Center App in the courtrooms and, therefore,
intend to rely on the courtroom clerks. I will not be purchasing a cell phone to replace
the Judges' duress alarms in the courtrooms or in their chambers. However, I do feel
strongly that it is my responsibility to provide for the safety of my staff and the general
public and would like for my staff to use the Safety Center App. I believe that the App
gets us about as close as possible to replacing the duress alarms in the courtrooms and the
Clerk's office compared to other options I have seen.
Dist # I
Dist # 2
Dist #3
Therefore, I would like your approval to move forward with the purchase of 6 cell phones
(one for each of the four Superior Court courtrooms, and two for the Clerk's Office to
replace two old duress alarms), and accompanying user plans, a charging station for
inside our vault (to help prevent theft), wall mounts, and screen protection/cases. I do not
RECEIVED
APR 2 9 2019
ti RANT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Abstain
Memorandum
April 29, 2019
Page 2
have funds budgeted in 2019 for this purpose and therefore may exceed my approved
budget in moving forward on this project. I anticipate the costs to be:
6 cell phones No cost through Verizon per GCTS
6 user plans $239.94/mo ($39.99/mo x 6)=$1,919.52 remainder of 2019
6 wall mounts $89.94 ($14.99 x 6)
6 screen protectors & covers $120 ($20 or less x 6)
1 multi -phone charging station for inside vault $39.99
Safety Center App No cost (already paid via Central Services) per Tom Gaines
Approx. Sub -Total for 2019 $2,169.45
Approx. Tax 174.00
APPROX. 2019 TOTAL $2,343.45
Once we have this in place, I anticipate the cost for 2020 will only be the monthly user
plan fees. I will be able to plan for those costs in advance and budget accordingly for the
coming year.
I would appreciate your approval to move ahead with these expenditures. Thank you for
your consideration.