[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6518163,"mediaKeyId","5399078-7ff2e49c35e9d0eb2c339dd10314d8e6","parentId",5399078,"title","IRPS committee approves multiple contracts, change orders and studies; awards and extensions totaled over $3 million","audioSeconds",220,"startMs",1947685,"endMs",2168405,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5399078-7ff2e49c35e9d0eb2c339dd10314d8e6&start=1947&end=2168","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5399078-7ff2e49c35e9d0eb2c339dd10314d8e6/thumbnail_1947685.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6518163/DeKalb-County/Georgia/IRPS-committee-approves-multiple-contracts-change-orders-and-studies-awards-and-extensions-totaled-over-3-million","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518163-37949f7bddf83fed0f20a8de2880f23c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950970&Signature=I0rAxfmDy3ElPYxam9g3xSEtzYyHR3DpRwa0FcQw8h9vF3QioBOLdJWkP4NaFZ5zXLkhhVcbo27C0DDWCRXO8iEQldt7BcfXEMm~9NLdo95WOyqvZp76dAk8UFCJiY7PDQ0JHb7R0kQ-XHqHBS3Tspd95FGYDp~jaUbUA1bjxm712XMihYu5knpUtqFI3gdXC9PcaCKBl8IEUTmimHl-4XP6LAd2DR0sV6mp~7VmMiQCrCP9q4M81JawxdgtVFBREGV6iclhw1Xdi1DXvewevvPRWBACGfgddNRGbV~Ef0fXju2b~LIjj-FMfldveoyn50NhdtvnGZxf0-FgbmbsAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeKalb County","date","2025-07-15T00:00:00Z","article","The DeKalb County IRPS Committee voted to approve several procurement and contract actions presented as requests for proposals, change orders or amendments. Committee members repeatedly moved and seconded recommendations; items passed by voice vote with no individual roll-call totals recorded in the transcript.

Key approvals and contract actions approved by the committee included:

- Background screening services (RFP No. 261000009) \u0012 recommended award to HR True Check, Inc., amount not to exceed $689,375, for the Department of Human Services and Merit System; approved by committee voice vote.

- Classification and compensation study (walk-on; RFP No. 271000078) \u0012 recommended award to Evergreen Solutions LLC, amount not to exceed $404,500; approved after committee discussion and a motion to approve the walk-on item.

- Uniforms for Fire Rescue Services (change order Nos. 1315118 and 1315134) \u0012 ratification of an extension and an increase to cover contract term through Dec. 31, 2025; awarded to Nafeco and Safeguard Printing and Promotional Products Inc.; total not to exceed $630,000; committee approved the change order.

- Public safety communications hardware (change order to Sourcewell contract 042021-MOT) \u0012 increase requested to Motorola Solutions, Inc. for purchase of APX radios and accessories and an extension through June 30, 2026; the committee approved a substitute clarifying the extension date and approved the request (the transcript records a requested $1,300,000 increase specific to police needs).

- Amendment to towing and record services contract (contract 20115571) \u0012 a multiyear, countywide contract used primarily by DeKalb Police Services; committee approved the requested amendment (item 20,250,583) after staff described long-term cost and recordkeeping concerns and proposed scope adjustments to improve data capture in renewals.

Other procedural items approved included minutes approval (item 2025-0990) and several routine extensions and change orders that were summarized on the agenda.

Presenters from county departments provided historical usage, procurement scoring and staffing impacts; questions focused on fiscal impacts (how much of the county's administrative cost is recovered under current fee structures), recordkeeping improvements for towing/removal services and precise extension dates for contracts. Staff said some contract amounts cover multiple departments and that some supporting usage figures would need to be provided later by request.

All motions recorded in the transcript were adopted by voice vote with the chair asking \"All in favor? Aye. Motion carries.\" No roll-call vote tallies were recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeKalb County - ERPS Committee Meeting - Jul 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The IRPS Committee approved multiple procurement awards, contract amendments and a countywide pay and classification study, including a background-screening contract and a $1.3 million increase tied to Motorola radio purchases.","taxTitle","DeKalb County, Georgia","taxId",3571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6518168,"DeKalb medical examiner details staffing, turnaround times, new fellowship and overdose trends",1066,51815,1118520,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5399078-7ff2e49c35e9d0eb2c339dd10314d8e6&start=51&end=1118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5399078-7ff2e49c35e9d0eb2c339dd10314d8e6/thumbnail_51815.jpg","/articles/6518168/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-medical-examiner-details-staffing-turnaround-times-new-fellowship-and-overdose-trends","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518168-2bb12b4734622aa8da10ae52e1992603/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950970&Signature=RQpaS1k1hWBarpH0oLs~Lc1J39grS2JSZS2h-ggtpKvTqt2cGPk9Exp53JVB-jQx66FKi1UsbvPYOW-c4sW4XrhAGlnhlxtl1PFiQwJM~6K4YsD7FBw37ZpuC8svVOE~NTklqAXY7RFxH9AVgYgtWCaPHHIIvkIjpjji6D8znHYgFTrfNHIufIUJQrtp8nCw0EzlBrsnAe-XPQhFYKfEfPQ54G3AL7TUtVj9CDWWA07J~P6QoSur2~dLQOqzbwFjKyS6wVOleLCOI7bu~62HOM2Jm0SCOr~lpKQRsaIZBy-QnVUkOExhhn~KU1a41NBnv0jh89ASxi192OVDL2QMhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bianca Loveless, director of the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office, told the DeKalb County IRPS Committee that the office is operating under a public'private partnership that helps speed autopsy and toxicology turnaround times and supports specialty staffing.

Loveless said the DeKalb office receives roughly 2,300 reported cases annually and conducts just under 1,000 forensic examinations. Of about 5,400 county deaths each year, roughly half are reported to the medical examiner's office and the office determines whether an exam is required. She said investigators and administrative staff are county employees while autopsy physicians and related medical staff work under contract with Forensic Medicine Associates (FMA) led by Dr. Gowett.

The arrangement, Loveless said, lets DeKalb contract physicians take autopsies for other counties (excluding prosecutable homicide cases), which helps justify larger physician staffing and shortens turnaround times. She said almost 70% of investigative reports are completed within 30 days, 46% of autopsy reports are completed within 30 days, and about 98% of examinations are completed within 72 hours. She noted the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) standard generally aims for 90% of autopsy reports within 90 days but acknowledged national backlogs have led to some leniency.

Loveless described workforce strategies to address a nationwide shortage of forensic pathologists (she cited roughly 500 working forensic pathologists vs. a need of 1,500\u00132,000). DeKalb is using specialized forensic physician assistants to extend physician capacity and is pursuing additional accreditations (NAME, IACME and ACGME). She said the office achieved ACGME accreditation to host a forensic pathology fellowship and the first fellow will start July 1, 2026, in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine.

The office also uses a private federal laboratory (National Medical Services) for much of its toxicology testing, which Loveless credited with improving turnaround. She described partnerships with public health and community organizations for data sharing and prevention work'for example, providing data to Claritel to guide Narcan distribution into neighborhoods with higher overdose activity. Loveless said the office expects to start an overdose fatality review process in August and that the office already provides data to the state child fatality review and other public-health efforts.

On toxicology trends, Loveless said DeKalb's 2024 data show about 38% of reportable deaths involved opiates (roughly 33% of deaths directly involving fentanyl) and just under 32% involved cocaine; she said methamphetamine activity is rising slightly. She told commissioners the office can provide more detailed tox breakdowns and will present a tox-focused briefing soon.

Loveless invited commissioners to tour the facility and said Dr. Gowett's FMA contract is scheduled for a renewal cycle in 2026\u00132027; county staff will return to the board if they seek to renew the contract. She emphasized the office is staffed 24/7, has 12 investigators (including the chief and two deputies), and that the public'private model keeps physician salaries off the county pension system while enabling greater staffing flexibility.

The committee asked questions about the partnership with FMA; Loveless said FMA prioritizes DeKalb cases and that the contract allows FMA to employ additional staff where demand warrants. Commissioners asked about capacity for large events (for example, the 2026 World Cup), and Loveless said the office can absorb short spikes, will limit staff leave during major events and has memorandums of understanding with other regional medical examiner offices for mutual aid.

Loveless closed by reiterating the office's staffing and accreditation goals, the Morehouse fellowship start date, and the planned overdose fatality review process.

DeKalb commissioners and staff said they would follow up with office tours and additional data requests.","Bianca Loveless, director of the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office, briefed the county IRPS Committee on office operations, a long-running public'private contract with Forensic Medicine Associates, caseload and turnaround metrics, workforce strategies including a Morehouse fellowship starting July 1, 2026, and recent toxicology trends.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6518153,"IRPS committee backs substitute reaffirming DeKalb Police diversion and crisis response for unhoused individuals",529,3912369,4442310,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5399078-7ff2e49c35e9d0eb2c339dd10314d8e6&start=3912&end=4442","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5399078-7ff2e49c35e9d0eb2c339dd10314d8e6/thumbnail_3912369.jpg","/articles/6518153/DeKalb-County/Georgia/IRPS-committee-backs-substitute-reaffirming-DeKalb-Police-diversion-and-crisis-response-for-unhoused-individuals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518153-b5dcbafbfb0fc6d815382d6ec2c8d10a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950970&Signature=G-Fz2Dtsf5UtpGiaoXUO9RfvmwD75AiFW~PNbYIoaNIez4LDXZjB7zi6I~rC0~hwzlMW7xigWqR8gAKusHkVxoT04FXXdDxkxmhdgg9DVFHIXvyU0H7DbKj-2paSfn8x8CqIpXbsCXpjWIK8PJxl4aOyW-sHxwlzWorI6P4Z1Ah8nyoH17KjSLRV5oKYlSMdQwossanFqwAfbfnS3k3bxMIw1QcUSxENWi0VXTVKPDoBAs7fYwPpCcbxWj6~UliuFIEOl54l0xCHG~j8NibhsSosnxNxqIlZpgEZkAuvDDB8Z9-NevkDdkospeG-i-Nx2wvfvGdjqxAqk2fqfzTZoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The IRPS Committee recommended adoption of a substitute resolution that directs DeKalb County Police to develop and continue diversion-oriented responses to people experiencing homelessness and to formalize practices that emphasize alternatives to arrest and incarceration.

Committee discussion noted the police department already operates community policing and mobile crisis response programs. Police Chief Patrick told the committee the resolution's language aligns with current standard operating procedures and presented no operational concerns. Commissioners asked that the substitute reaffirm existing practice, mention the department's ongoing mobile crisis work and encourage municipalities within the county to adopt similar approaches. County legal staff (Attorney Welch) said a substitute draft would be circulated; committee members voted to send the substitute forward with a recommendation to adopt.

The committee framed the action as a reaffirmation and request to formalize and publish policy rather than imposing new statutory requirements. Chief Patrick said the department could codify the practice into written policy for clarity and to help with interjurisdictional coordination. County administration and law staff will circulate a redline substitute to committee members before the county commission meeting.","The committee recommended a substitute resolution asking DeKalb County Police to continue diversion-oriented responses to homelessness and to develop a formal policy; the committee approved sending the substitute to the full board.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6518158,"County staff to return with comprehensive plan on scrap-tire dumping; ordinance draft deferred 30 days",623,3264735,3888400,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5399078-7ff2e49c35e9d0eb2c339dd10314d8e6&start=3264&end=3888","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5399078-7ff2e49c35e9d0eb2c339dd10314d8e6/thumbnail_3264735.jpg","/articles/6518158/DeKalb-County/Georgia/County-staff-to-return-with-comprehensive-plan-on-scrap-tire-dumping-ordinance-draft-deferred-30-days","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6518158-5ceac0b65053cc9b33e222f126cf3bf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950970&Signature=KfObPgY9M2xEjMJlBKHpL5RoFYfirkWqmOWQKPdUhp02CCeVQKdiJfWXBqe8per~wfqigORTCmcX9ACcn-IfUgC~VX6AEdpSjDpQGYxYd~gsDZalHvStn6ZoeJVGTvOLdkrB4z4Z89-IeZA793SZFMCuKlKyCzyK25l~1FRxCKYIbFmuwohqdeBbUF58zqJsTubL1~ungGfgtvXaN-nGq1nItwHQ97~cm4bH3I1oJNaXBBErbd4saYknvAm~JzhYfUfbcedrLxJWa1UV~Ix0F8Xy2eRjx7~jrU5kX2BRwrWklzd0pt~UQ~FIpqUSbC~HFxACDi2T2F5~5F0vVduS5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marcus Allen (county staff) presented a proposed resolution and draft ordinance language to address widespread illegal dumping of scrap tires, which committee member Commissioner Patrick sponsored. Allen described a multi-pronged approach that staff has been developing with planning and sustainability, code enforcement, public works and the law department. The package will include local code adjustments, enforcement strategies, remediation tactics, public education, vendor engagement and a proposed state legislative request to include on the county's 2026 legislative agenda.

Staff asked the committee to defer formal action for 30 days to allow additional conversations with the director of code enforcement, finalize changes to proposed ordinance language (the draft references section 20-269 for unlawful dumping), and fold in input from regional partners. Commissioner Marita Davis Johnson asked that the results of the conversation with code enforcement be summarized for the committee; staff agreed to circulate a memo. Commissioners discussed possible additions including a registry for entities claiming reimbursement for tire disposal and proactive code enforcement coverage. Commissioner Tierney suggested additional funding for proactive code enforcement and said the item may return with funding requests for additional officers.

Commissioner Patrick and staff emphasized the regional nature of tire dumping and said they have already begun conversations with neighboring jurisdictions (Cobb, Gwinnett and Fulton). After discussion the committee voted to defer the item 30 days; staff will return with an amended code draft and implementation logic models for committee review.","A resolution proposed to address persistent scrap-tire dumping across DeKalb County was discussed and deferred for 30 days so staff can coordinate with code enforcement, planning, public works and stakeholders and produce an amended ordinance and implementation plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

IRPS committee approves multiple contracts, change orders and studies; awards and extensions totaled over $3 million

DeKalb medical examiner details staffing, turnaround times, new fellowship and overdose trends

IRPS committee backs substitute reaffirming DeKalb Police diversion and crisis response for unhoused individuals

County staff to return with comprehensive plan on scrap-tire dumping; ordinance draft deferred 30 days