The Butler County commissioners Wednesday authorized borrowing up to $15 million to fund a new 911 emergency call system and complete interior construction of the second level of the government center annex.

Bond counsel Anthony Ditka of the firm, said the ordinance only set the limits of the borrowing.

“We're not borrowing the money today,” Ditka said.

Although the county awarded a nearly $10 million contract to Motorola to install the new system, that contract does not cover some aspects of the project.

A second contract will be awarded to cover tower site work and bringing radio transmissions back to the 911 dispatch center with either microwave dishes or dedicated fiber lines.

The total projected cost for the project is $13.5 million.

“That is the lion's share,” Ditka said about the system installation requiring most of the borrowing.

Along with that $13.5 million total, the interior work at the annex is estimated to run another $1 million.

County Commissioner Leslie Osche, board chairman, said after the meeting the remaining $500,000 would serve as a buffer to ensure there are sufficient funds for both projects.

The county constructed a new building adjacent to the government center to provide additional office space for such areas as human services.

County Commissioner Leslie Osche said other departments such as mapping, tax claim and planning would relocate to the second level of the annex building.

County Controller Ben Holland unsuccessfully tried convincing the commissioners to do an online auction rather than going through the standard process of issuing bonds.

Holland said an auction's competition would obtain a better interest rate.

“I think the county could be a leader and buck this trend,” Holland said. “I would highly encourage that.”

Osche said the county would examine using that method in the future, but this borrowing would proceed as a negotiated process.

“Going forward, we would absolutely be open to an auction,” she said.

Commissioner Kevin Boozel said an auction would not necessarily lower costs for the county.

“There's no guarantee that will work out better,” Boozel said.

Holland conceded there was no guarantee, but stressed it could only help increase the chance for that result.

“I think the odds are in your favor,” he said.

Commissioner Kim Geyer stressed the board examined how best to proceed.

“This made sense,” Geyer said. “We took a lot of this under consideration. We're trying to do what's best for Butler County taxpayers.”