Pictured: A sample photo of the Verkada system from Verkada.com.
The Carroll County Board of Supervisors approved a nearly $30,000 bid for new “panic buttons” in the county’s offices. County IT Director Dalton Morrison says the safety committee sought quotes for three different systems and favored the Verkada System at a cost of $29,835.
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Morrison says the county has had a panic button security system for quite some time, but the current one is showing its age. He adds that there have been some difficulties getting it to run properly following the courthouse renovations. Morrison explains how the new system will function.
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The Verkada system has the added benefit of being expandable, meaning additional units could be installed at the Carroll County Conservation Education Center at Swan Lake State Park, the Carroll County Roads Department, or other county buildings in the future if officials desire. The two other quotes the Carroll County Safety Committee received were $33,695 and $100,225, and neither met the county’s needs as well as the Verkada units. District 4 Supervisor Stephanie Hausman says the price tag seems high, but the county should be willing to pay it to ensure employee safety.
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The board agreed with Hausman’s sentiment, voting 4-1, District 2 Supervisor Mike Andersen being the sole nay vote, to approve the Verkada quote. The supervisors will use a $1,000 grant from the Iowa Municipal Workers’ Compensation Association (IMWCA) to help cover a portion of the purchase and installation costs.
***This story has been updated to accurately reflect the vote tally on this motion.***