The Orleans County Legislature moved quickly through a light agenda during their Tuesday afternoon meeting, approving a suite of public safety upgrades and administrative housekeeping items. Chairwoman Lynne Johnson called the meeting to order at 4:28 p.m. on August 19. All five legislators present—Johnson, Lynne Johnson, John Fitzak, Kevin Miller, and Bill Morgan—voted in favor of all resolutions. Legislators Draper and Eick were absent. Public safety was the primary focus of the evening’s spending. The Legislature authorized over $34,000 in equipment purchases for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. Significant allocations included $14,000 for ten ballistic armor carriers for jail staff and $8,455 for five "less than lethal" single launchers and accessories for the SWAT team. The launchers will be purchased from United Uniform in Buffalo. The department is also upgrading its vehicle capabilities. Legislators approved $11,913.73 for a K9 unit insert and labor, to be purchased from Empire Emergency. Notably, this purchase will be paid for using Opioid funds rather than the general county tax levy. The Legislature also moved to modernize the county’s emergency response capabilities through Resolution 352-825. The body approved a five-year agreement with Rapid SOS, a New York-based company. The agreement, which runs from August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2030, will provide applications to 911 and emergency responders aimed at improving response times and outcomes. “We are always looking to improve safety for our residents and our first responders,” said Chairman Johnson. “The fact that this technology comes at no cost to the county makes it a win-win.” During the communications portion of the meeting, the Legislature took time to recognize two local mainstays. Legislator Miller presented a Special Recognition to ADFORS Saint-Gobain, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Albion. Several employees, including HR Manager Constance Wadsworth and Logistics Manager Joe Culbertson, accepted the honor. Additionally, Legislator Allport issued a proclamation honoring National Health Center Week to Oak Orchard Health. Dr. Mead, Chief Medical Officer, accepted the proclamation on behalf of CEO Karen Kinter. Dr. Mead used the platform to highlight the importance of community health centers and thanked key partners, including Paul Pettit of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments and Danielle Figura of Orleans County Mental Health, for their continued collaboration. On the administrative side, the Legislature approved a restructuring of civil service titles within the Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management Office. In the Sheriff’s Administration, the Legislature abolished a Civil Clerk position and a Senior Civil Clerk position to create two new Principal Civil Clerk roles. These changes, effective August 20, are part of the county’s efforts to align staffing grades with operational needs. The meeting also included standard financial housekeeping. The Legislature authorized the renewal of the rental agreement with the Public Defender’s Office. The new rate is set at $13.11 per square foot, reflecting updated Venesky SOCA Report data. The office will submit claims for reimbursement to Indigent Legal Services. Furthermore, the County Treasurer was authorized to transfer $728.96 within the Probation budget. This transfer covers an increased subscription cost for the department's case management software, Caseload Explorer, following a transition in service providers. The meeting adjourned shortly after 5:00 p.m. The next Legislature meeting is scheduled for September.