Fayette County has approved a contract to implement a new communications system at its 911 emergency center.

The Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on May 24 to pay Carbyne Inc., $192,000 a year for the Public Safety Ecosystem software, which includes a mobile app for providing live video, more precise location information to shorten response times, and the ability to text emergency operators. The county will pay Carbyne $144,000 up front to install the system and the remaining $48,000 in three to four months when the system goes live. The contract provides for an annual renewal of six one-year terms.

Last December, Fayette County became the first location in the country to do a pilot program of the system.