The Cleburne County Commission held a pre-paid emergency communications district meeting on December 16, 2024, where several key topics were discussed, primarily focusing on the operations and challenges faced by the county's emergency communication services.

The meeting began with no public comments or requests from officials. The first agenda item involved the approval of the previous meeting's minutes, which was briefly discussed but not finalized due to some confusion among the members.

Miss Kirkland presented the monthly report for November, highlighting that the department processed approximately 26,000 calls. She noted that while there were tick freeze warnings, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was not activated. Kirkland also provided updates on various training sessions attended by staff and mentioned the submission of an Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) application.

A significant portion of the discussion centered around the county's communication systems. Kirkland explained that the county had been using a hosted system for call taking, which had been problematic due to connectivity issues. The vendor recommended transitioning back to a standalone system, prompting the application for a substantial grant to cover costs. However, the grant process has been delayed due to issues with the state board's handling of funds, leaving the county in a precarious financial situation regarding its communication infrastructure.

The commission expressed concerns about the ongoing costs associated with the hosted system, which amounted to approximately $10,800 annually. Kirkland indicated that if the grant were approved, it would alleviate some financial burdens, but until then, the county would continue to incur costs without a clear resolution.

The conversation also touched on the potential for reevaluating the distribution of cost recovery funds from phone taxes, which could provide additional financial support for the county's emergency services. Members discussed the importance of advocating for changes to the funding structure to better support smaller counties like Cleburne.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the challenges faced by Cleburne County in maintaining effective emergency communication services amid financial constraints and connectivity issues. The commission plans to continue pursuing grant opportunities and advocating for changes in funding to ensure the county's emergency services can operate efficiently.