Untitled Document

	City Council Gets An Unwelcome Surprise July 20, 2010 The Arab City Council received an unwelcome surprise during their meeting Monday night. Immediately prior to the meeting they were notified that they could possibly be on the hook for a new police department telephone and radio recording system that could cost as much as $17,000. According to Arab Police Lt. Ed Ralston the current two year old system will not work with the new digital communications and data system being installed at city hall. Ralston said the current system is only capable of recording analog signals. The new phone system, which utilizes Voice Over IP (VOIP) technology is digital. Ralston said he found out about the problem just before the meeting and wanted to make the council aware of the problem. Digitel, the vendor for the communications system upgrade, had originally proposed a new digital recorder as part of the system but it was removed when officials were told that the current system would work. Several of the councilmen questioned why the discrepancy was just now being discovered. Mayor Beam said it was thought that they recording system would work because it was so new. Price estimates to upgrade the current recorder to digital capabilities would cost around $13 - $14,000 while a totally new system would cost about $17,000 according to Ralston. Marshall County E911 Director and councilman Johnny Hart asked the council to delay action on purchasing a new system until the consultant for 911 was able to look at the system and make a recommendation. "There may be a less expensive solution." Hart told the council after making a quick phone call to the consultant. The council decided to defer action until hart could report back to the council.

City Council Gets An Unwelcome Surprise

July 20, 2010
The Arab City Council received an unwelcome surprise during their meeting Monday night. Immediately prior to the meeting they were notified that they could possibly be on the hook for a new police department telephone and radio recording system that could cost as much as $17,000.

According to Arab Police Lt. Ed Ralston the current two year old system will not work with the new digital communications and data system being installed at city hall. Ralston said the current system is only capable of recording analog signals. The new phone system, which utilizes Voice Over IP (VOIP) technology is digital. Ralston said he found out about the problem just before the meeting and wanted to make the council aware of the problem.

Digitel, the vendor for the communications system upgrade, had originally proposed a new digital recorder as part of the system but it was removed when officials were told that the current system would work. Several of the councilmen questioned why the discrepancy was just now being discovered. Mayor Beam said it was thought that they recording system would work because it was so new.

Price estimates to upgrade the current recorder to digital capabilities would cost around $13 - $14,000 while a totally new system would cost about $17,000 according to Ralston.

Marshall County E911 Director and councilman Johnny Hart asked the council to delay action on purchasing a new system until the consultant for 911 was able to look at the system and make a recommendation. "There may be a less expensive solution." Hart told the council after making a quick phone call to the consultant. The council decided to defer action until hart could report back to the council.