Steve Ledford, the treasurer of MOAS, explains the shelter's financial situation at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday night. The commissioners voted to give $13,000 to MOAS. (Andy Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo)
The Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners voted to unanimously approve a technology upgrade to its emergency dispatch operations at its monthly meeting on Monday.
The request, presented by 911 director Angela Jackson, follows the implementation of Georgia House Bill 423, which was effective on July 1, 2025, and established Next Generation 911 (NG911) services. The bill was introduced as an attempt to overhaul Georgia’s outdated 911 systems after they were shown to struggle with the volume of crisis calls.
Next Generation 911 is a digital, internet protocol (IP)-based system that replaces analog 911 infrastructure. It includes features like texting services and multi-language translation, as well as photo and video sharing.
“If I remember right, this is one of those unfunded mandates the state put into effect,” District 5 Commissioner Tracy Norman said.
The county’s current VIPER 5 system from Intrado isn’t compliant with NG911 and is no longer under warranty. Jackson said continued noncompliance could result in fines up to $1,000 per day from the state.
“The one that we have now is just phone calls, and to be Next Gen compliant, we have to be able to get text, video and pictures,” Jackson said. “It’s supposed to help responders (and) give them more information of what we see and different things like that.”
Jackson presented two vendor options to the board: CentralSquare Technologies and Intrado’s VIPER. She recommended upgrading with the Intrado VIPER system, which would bring the county’s dispatch system to VIPER 7, emphasizing it was the most practical choice.
“That’s the system we have now, and it would be upgrading licensing and less training,” she said.
Jackson also said an AT&T technician lives in the county, ensuring local support, compared to CentralSquare’s remote assistance.
Despite CentralSquare being $187,007 cheaper in upfront costs, the board decided to move forward with VIPER. County administrator Jason Lewis said VIPER’s initial $324,048 implementation cost will be covered by the 2022 SPLOST funds allocated for public safety.
Ongoing monthly fees of $9,809.12, which include the emergency services IP network ESInet, will be covered by a public safety initiative funded through the school zone cameras.
Jackson said it could take up to 18 months to get the system up and running.
Roughly 27 people attended the 28-minute meeting at the courthouse. After the public comment time was completed, Norman made a motion to enter into executive session, in which county officials said no action was taken.
County to assist MOAS with funding
The Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter (MOAS) is expecting to experience a deficit of $39,000 as the end of the year approaches. The board unanimously decided to amend the 2026 budget to fund $13,000 of this total, in an attempt to carry the organization through October, November and December.
“This is literally a lifesaver,” said Steve Ledford, the MOAS treasurer. “It will help make sure that we can make it through the end of the year, but it also shows a willingness to work with us in so many different ways to make sure that we can continue doing what we’re doing.”
While the shelter spends $60-65,000 each month on average, its revenue sits in the high $50,000s. Ledford told the BOC this has led to an $8,000 monthly deficit.
“We actually were doing fairly well at the start of this year … and then, unfortunately, costs started rising,” he said.
The organization has struggled with the increased cost of medical, veterinary and sanitation supplies, with Ledford estimating that the prices of many of the items the shelter uses for veterinary and surgical tasks have risen 50-100%.
Beyond animal care materials, the organization’s 25-year-old building has faced infrastructure failures, increasing the financial strain. Ledford said it’s needed air conditioning units replaced and has experienced septic tank and flooding issues.
“We have dogs and cats coming in and out, (the building) gets a lot of wear and tear, and cleaning supplies are not exactly friendly to things like concrete finishes,” Ledford said.
The shelter is working with other animal welfare organizations in the area and adjusting the pricing of services to reduce costs. It plans to approach Madison County to request a contribution of the remaining $26,000.
“We talked to some folks there,” Ledford said. “I think there’s definitely a willingness, but it needs to go through the official procedures. But we are very hopeful.”
Parking space change approved for new store
Brian Braun, representing Axis Engineering Consultants, presented a request for a variance to the parking space requirements for a general retail store next to Oglethorpe Animal Clinic at 1562 Athens Road on behalf of Teramore Development.
County officials said the store likely will be a Dollar General.
The board unanimously approved the request to drop the number of parking spaces from 41 to 20.
In other business, the BOC:
Unanimously approved a $23,500 request from cooperative extension coordinator Shanna Reynolds to fund a new program assistant position within the county’s 4-H program. The total salary for the position will be $47,000, with the Board of Education contributing the other half.
Unanimously approved Andy Barrs’ request to withdraw a request for a variance to the minimum road frontage required on an unpaved county road for Tax Parcel 036 037 on Lower Wirebridge Road.
- Unanimously approved a request from the Recreation Department for a new storage building. The lowest quote was roughly $25,000, which will come out of 2022 SPLOST funds.