# County Sheriffs Manage ALPR Contracts

Ottawa County Sheriff's Office in Michigan currently operates a network of 31 Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras under a master service agreement valued at approximately **$45,000 annually** since 2024, with no planned expansion through 2029. The Sheriff's Office is negotiating a new records management system contract that may bundle additional ALPR cameras, body cameras, and tasers, pending finance committee approval. Meanwhile, Blaine County Sheriff's Office in Idaho plans to terminate its **$60,000 annual** ALPR contract with Flock Safety in March 2027 and remove a camera near Carey, following public concerns and discussions with county officials. Both counties emphasize balancing public safety benefits with privacy and civil liberties, with ongoing oversight and transparency efforts regarding ALPR technology procurement and data management.

- **Key agencies involved:** Ottawa County Sheriff's Office (Michigan) and Blaine County Sheriff's Office (Idaho) managing ALPR technology contracts with Flock Safety
- **Contract management:** Ottawa County maintains a stable ALPR deployment with potential bundled procurement for expanded body-worn and records management systems; Blaine County is ending its ALPR contract and reassessing future technology use
- **Privacy and oversight:** Public concerns about surveillance and data use are influencing procurement decisions, requiring procurement professionals to incorporate transparency and legal compliance in contract renewals
- **Budget and funding:** Annual contract values range from $45,000 to $60,000, with funding sources including civil forfeiture funds in Blaine County, highlighting diverse budget considerations
- **Actionable insight:** Procurement teams should prepare for bundled technology procurements combining ALPR, body cameras, and related public safety equipment, and ensure contract terms address data ownership, access controls, and community engagement requirements

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety, Information Technology
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance, Policy, Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** September 22, 2026

### Government Entities
- Ottawa County Sheriff's Office
- Blaine County Sheriff's Office
- Blaine County Commissioners
- Michigan Senate
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

### Vendors
- Flock Safety (technology provider)
- Axon (technology provider (Axon Fusus system))

### Key Quotes
> Community trust depends on transparency and local input. I inherited this contract and these camera locations. After speaking with Carey officials and residents across Blaine County, it is clear we need to correct the placement in Carey and give the public a clear path forward when this agreement ends.
> — Morgan Ballis, Sheriff

> We can either add deputies, which is cost prohibitive, or we can use technology to make them more efficient, so they can go and do the work that they need to do, and we can save the lives we need.
> — Eric DeBoer, Sheriff

> It's fascinating, right? To think that lives can be saved with this new technology being available, being able to get to those who are going through a crisis and being able to provide aid more quickly is something that's extremely important to us.
> — Jon Marcus

### Sources
- [September 18, 2026 Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Work Session](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPnFrR4Yh-o) - miOttawa
- [Ottawa County sheriff defends Flock license plate cameras as residents press privacy concerns](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/ottawa-county-sheriff-defends-flock-184935676.html) - Yahoo
- [Project B.E.A.C.O.N. aims to transform Ottawa County emergency response](https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/holland-zeeland-grand-haven/project-b-e-a-c-o-n-aims-to-transform-ottawa-county-emergency-response-with-drones-and-real-time-data) - FOX 17 West Michigan News