The sheriff’s department will have to wait one more week before it can fully commit to converting to the 800-megahertz radio system.

The county board opted to postpone a decision to join the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) because Commissioners Mike Ankeny and Tim Gabrielson were not at the meeting.

“I’d just feel more comfortable having all five members,” Commissioner Ray Tucker said.

However, the clock is ticking, and if the county doesn’t inform ARMER officials that it’s in by Sept. 20, the money set aside for Mower will be made available to a different county.

“We’re going to have to make a commitment and now would be the best time because those funds are going away,” Amazi said.

Amazi urged the board to make a decision soon.

“Those dollars are there right now,” Amazi said.

Mower County is the last holdout, as all the other counties in southeast Minnesota have already converted to 800 megahertz. Mower is still on an FM radio system its been on for years.

Through grants, the county has purchased about 120 radio units for law enforcement fire, EMT officials, and rural EMT and fire officials. The newest grant would replace the main radios in dispatch and would fully commit Mower to changing over to 800 megahertz.

The county would pay half the cost of three 800-megahertz radio consoles for dispatch that would cost about $175,000 each. The other half would be paid by grant dollars through the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response.