Troy first responders will soon have more tools at their fingertips.

The Troy City Council unanimously approved a contract with Southern Software, Inc. for $58,185 to purchase software that will allow first responders to access information while out in the field instead contacting the dispatch office.

“It will be very beneficial, not only to the police department but to the fire department also,” Troy Police Chief Jimmy Ennis said. “Officers and firefighters will be able to see what dispatchers are seeing. I look forward to implementation.”

The current system has been in place for more than 20 years, according to E911 Board Director Chris Dozer.

“A map portion will give turn by turn directions and officers and firefighters will be able to run queries and will alert dispatch the same time it alerts them,” Dozer said. The software also includes a data conversion portion that will take records from the old system and convert them for the new system.

“This will put in our first responder’s fingertips all the information they might need,” Troy Mayor Jason Reeves said. “It will be very beneficial to first responders as well as with records management.”

In other business, the council:

• Approved a new lease agreement with the U.S. Army that involves office space and the control tower at the Troy Airport. The lease is $2,215 per month for a total of $26,580 per year. The lease is for one year with options to renew for up to five years.

• Approved an agreement with HD Water Works that provides support for the switchover to electric meters.

• Declared 20 firearms in use by the police department as surplus property so that the department can trade them in with new replacements.

• Designated Mayor Jason Reeves and Council member Dejerilyn King Henderson as Voting Delegates for the National League of Cities which will be held in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Nov. 22.

• Carried forward an application for an off premises beer and wine license and a resolution for uniform bid awards for their next meeting, Oct. 28.