Metro Fire Agency plans transition to cloud-based fire record system by 2025

The Clay County Board of Commissioners convened on May 20, 2025, to address several key issues, including budget considerations and necessary transitions in fire record management systems.

The meeting began with discussions regarding internal and external financial obligations. The finance committee recommended proceeding with payments for internal services, which are currently in the third year of a five-year agreement. In exchange, assurances were made that there would be a reduction in costs for external services.

A significant topic of discussion was the transition from the current fire record management system provided by Tyler Technologies. The company has announced it will discontinue its fire record solution, prompting the need to migrate to a new cloud-based platform called First Due. This transition is expected to be implemented by the Metro Fire Agency by the end of 2025. While there may be initial cost savings from the old system, the new platform is anticipated to incur higher expenses, leading to a projected budget increase for 2026.

The board also reviewed the draft budget for 2026, which proposed a 6% increase. However, representatives from Cass County expressed a desire to limit any increases to 3%. No formal action was taken on the budget during this meeting, as further review is scheduled for June. The final budget recommendation must be submitted to the full board by July, in accordance with the governing policies.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the board's ongoing financial planning and the need to adapt to changes in service providers, with further discussions planned in the coming months.