Stephens County (Ga.) will buy more than $1 million worth of equipment to upgrade the county’s emergency communications at its E-9-1-1 facility.

The County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday to buy a recorder, a phone system and a radio console, as well as an infrastructure upgrade for emergency communications.

For the recorder, county commissioners approved a $15,337 bid from Quality Recording Solutions.

For the phone system, radio consoles and infrastructure upgrade, county commissioners accepted a bid from Motorola for slightly less than $1.524 million.

That was not the low bid.

The low bid came from Gunby Communications of Toccoa for slightly less than $590,000.

County commission Chairman Dean Scarborough said the commission’s decision was “based on quite a bit of investigation, several sources including surrounding counties, staff recommendations, and difficulties we have experienced in the past.”

The last time the topic of bids for equipment and infrastructure went before the commission for consideration, county officials tabled discussion of the matter.

County commissioners Stanley London and Debbie Whitlock voted against the bid awards made this week, citing the cost.

London said the county only allocated $750,000 of its special purpose local option sales tax VI money to pay for the work.

County administrator Phyllis Ayers said the county is looking into a possible lease-purchase of the equipment to spread out the cost and into using future special sales tax money to help pay for it, if such use receives the appropriate approval. Otherwise, Ayers said, the county would need to find the additional money internally.