Commission approves $170,000 contract with INA Alert to consolidate door access systems

Liberal commissioners on Thursday approved a contract and payment schedule with INA Alert to consolidate the city’s door access control systems across six departments and nine locations, authorizing a total expenditure not to exceed $170,000.

City staff said the project will replace three separate door‑access systems with one centrally managed platform under IT, covering 46 doors and integrating readers and sensors. The consolidation will allow remote activation and deactivation of individual employee codes, eliminating the need to manually reprogram multiple mechanical systems when staffing changes.

Under the approved payment structure, the city will pay 25 percent of the cost in 2025 — $41,079.23 — and the remaining 75 percent — $123,237.70 — in 2026; both payments were described as funded from the crime‑prevention portion of the city’s 1¢ sales tax (25% in 2025 allocation, remainder from 2026 allocation). Staff requested and the commission approved a waiver of the purchasing policy to continue working with the company already under contract for related security and camera systems.

Jake Strecker, introduced by staff as chief sales and marketing officer and owner of INA Alert, attended to answer technical questions. Staff said the project will also overlap and simplify previously planned work for wastewater cameras and gate access, reducing future duplication.

Commissioners voted 5‑0 to waive the purchasing policy and to accept the INA Alert quote and contract authorization. Staff noted the phased payment structure was designed to align with available budget and prior vendor relationships.