A public safety request from DeWitt County Sheriff Mike Walker was the topic of much debate last week at the DeWitt County Board meeting.

Sheriff Walker was requesting 20 new portable radios for his staff. He says that will cover everyone who uses a unit with a few spares. Sheriff Walker explains the current units are very old and starting to fail.

The debate was not about the need for the new radios but rather where the funding was coming from. Board member Joe Witte questioned dedicated American Rescue Act Funds, or ARPA funds to the Sheriff's Office before other County departments had a chance to make a bid for those dollars.

Board Chair Dan Matthews balked at the idea of putting off the purchase of the radios but did support looking into the remaining COVID dollars and how to best spend those.

Sheriff Walker says if he has an issue and can't get emergency services somewhere because of the failing radios, he would tell the public he asked for new radios and was told no.

The County Board took a vote to table the purchases and failed on a 5-5 vote. The vote to approve the purchase passed on an 8-2 with Jamie Prestergaard and Buck Carter voting against.