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JACKSON – The Northampton Board of Commissioners approved a request to replace outdated software used by the county’s E911 department at their regular meeting here on Jan. 5.

Communications Director Lakeshia Ransom presented the information to the board, explaining why this would be a necessary upgrade for the department. The new software would be provided by Southern Software.

The county’s current CAD (computer-aided dispatch) software will soon be obsolete and the servers to support that software are now out-of-date, Ransom stated. She also noted that surrounding counties are already using Southern Software.

“Northampton, Halifax, Warren, and Hertford County try to all utilize the same equipment in case one of us goes down,” Ransom explained, also adding that it would be easier to transfer calls between each county if necessary.

“As we know, technology is changing each and every day, and I don’t want us to be behind in technology,” Ransom emphasized.

The cost for the project will be $147,753 to include first year maintenance, and the server project will cost $53,433.71. The entire server cost and almost all of the software cost will be eligible for funding from the 911 fund.

Ransom stated that they would need just over $4,900 in county funds to cover the rest of the cost.

Commissioners Joyce Buffaloe asked what would be the estimated timeline for installation, and Ransom answered that it usually takes eight weeks.

Buffaloe then motioned to approve the recommendation for the new software, and Commissioner Kelvin Edwards seconded. The vote passed unanimously in favor.