The Henry County Police Department is getting more resources to protect both its officers and the public.

  The Board of Commissioners voted at its December 17 regular meeting to approve the purchase of 180 cellular smartphones and additional equipment for the HCPD’s Patrol and Criminal Investigations Divisions and Special Operations vehicles.

  Each of the Verizon Kyocera Duraforce Pro 2 Smartphones is equipped with a digital body camera with access to cloud storage with Visual Labs Inc. application, an audio and video recorder, a GPS tracking device and 24-hour mobile access to departmental email and text messaging. All evidence from the phone is immediately uploaded to the cloud based system through the Verizon network.

  The purchase also includes 35 Verizon Jet pack MiFi devices for CID and 118 dash camera systems for the department as well.

  In January of 2018, the commissioners approved a resolution to purchase 180 Kyocera Smartphones for the department’s Uniform, Code Enforcement and Animal Control Divisions, and they also voted later in 2018 to extend the Visual Labs contract for a three-year period.

  With the Visual Labs contract already in place and with the company’s approval of a contract addendum, the HCPD will pay approximately $29,400 for the additional dash camera systems. The total amount for the purchase of the 180 smartphones, 118 systems and installment, subscription fees and 35 jet packs is approximately $71,000.

  Funds to purchase the equipment listed above will be allocated through the Federal Seized Funds account.

  In other business, the board voted to approve a contract with Waste Pro of Doraville for solid waste removal and disposal services for various county locations. The current solid waste removal and disposal services contract was set to expire December 31, and officials said having a contract in place allows quick access to services while guaranteeing prices will remain firm throughout the contract period. The board approved a one-year unit price contract with two mutually-agreed-upon annual extensions. The county may add or remove locations as required and the cost will be negotiated in accordance with bid prices, according to a county staff report.

  The commissioners reviewed but took no action on an annexation notification from Locust Grove regarding 48 acres located at 342 Davis Lake Road, on the east side of that road and across from Colvin Drive. The city proposes to annex the two subject properties with its current RA zoning. Planning and Zoning staff’s opinion is that it would not create a significant change in the surrounding land uses and the future land use designation for the property.

  The board voted to approve a $91,846.50 bid award by AM Construction for repair and replacement of a storm drain in the Steeplechase subdivision.