Discuss, consider, and take appropriate action on a line item transfer for the Fire Marshal Special Operations (FMSO) department.

A Knox Key is what the Fire Service utilizes to gain access to every business/building in their city with one key versus having a separate key for each business/building. The Knox company has devised a new system called an Electronic Key (https://www.knoxbox.com/knox-elock-system/). With this upgrade businesses and/or buildings will have to change out their core to replace the mechanical key with the electronic key, so it is imperative to initiate the upgrade as soon as possible to allow time for businesses and/or buildings to do so. After the upgrade, a Firefighter can gain access to the building with an electronic key that is programed to only be valid for a set amount of time. The time frame that the key is valid is customizable and can be set for just a couple hours, or few days, but not to exceed 7 days. This feature significantly mitigates risk if the key is ever lost or stolen.

FMSO feels it is in the of best interest of the County to upgrade to this system as soon as possible. The Knox company will replace the existing system with the upgraded system for about $7,000 (see attached quote). The department has put a request in their 2020 budget for the upgrade, but due to the criticalness of upgrading as soon as possible, has also analyzed the current budget to find a way to immediately facilitate the upgrade. Since the adoption of the FY19 budget, FMSO was able to obtain grant funding for HazMat 360 and for Mercury detection equipment, both of which were originally funded in the FY19 general fund FMSO budget,  therefor freeing up funds to purchase the upgrade in FY19 and eliminate the FY20 budget request to upgrade. This line item transfer is to facilitate the purchase of the upgrade in FY19, in lieu of requesting funds in FY20.