The Butler County commissioners on Thursday awarded a nearly $10 million contract to Motorola to install a new 911 emergency call system.

Commissioner Leslie Osche, board chairman, said the contract is the result of a two-year process.

“We’re ready to move forward,” she said.

Steve Bicehouse, director of county emergency services, said the installation would be completed before 2018, the deadline when Motorola stops providing software and hardware support for the current system.

Bicehouse said the new system would enhance emergency service responses.

“This will meet our needs,” he said.

As part of the contract, Motorola will provide 1,716 radios for police, fire and ambulance services to use.

The county is covering most of the radios’ costs, which is $3,500 each, or roughly $5 million of the total cost before company discounts were applied.

The separate departments will be required to reimburse an amount yet to be determined by the county.

Commissioner Kevin Boozel agreed the new system will be beneficial.

“The taxpayers are going to get a quality service provided to them at the lowest price possible,” Boozel said.

Motorola guaranteed a minimum of 95 percent coverage for the system.

Bicehouse said 100 percent coverage was not feasible.

“There will always be dead areas with our topography,” he said.

A maintenance agreement will be negotiated later.