Public safety chief advised the council that county guidance recommended keeping footage '2 years and a day' and discussed tradeoffs between one-time storage payment vs. ongoing contract costs for legacy Axon footage and new Motorola cameras.

Lancaster County approved Ordinance 2026-2054 to appropriate $1,245,500 from the general fund unassigned balance to finalize and close out the sheriff's evidence storage facility; staff said the facility is substantially complete and the funds will cover remaining contractual obligations.

Willdan’s assessment for Elbert County’s Justice Center recommends expanding the sheriff’s evidence room from roughly 390 sq ft to about 950 sq ft, repurposing a 1,200 sq ft OES space for intake, or building a freestanding facility; consultants said asbestos and mold testing and an investment-grade audit are next steps.