MARSHALL — The regional Southwest Health and Human Services joint powers board voted Wednesday to expand emergency button availability for staff at county-based offices.

The board approved a recommendation from administrators to spend $4,535 for emergency buttons (known as panic buttons) in interview rooms. The cost will cover both installation and first-year maintenance.

The interview room buttons will create added security in conjunction with existing buttons located in front office areas. Two of the six SHHS counties (which include Lyon, Redwood, Murray, Lincoln, Pipestone and Rock) already have some additional units in place.

Interview room buttons, placed on the undersides of tables, are within easy reach if clients show signs of being a danger to staff members or possibly to themselves.

When a button is pushed, law enforcement officers immediately have an audio connection and can tell that the signal is coming from their county’s human services office. Since it’s a silent alarm, an individual who might pose a threat doesn’t know that officers are on their way.

“It’s an opportunity to have more office safety than what’s in place now,” said SHHS Director Beth Wilms. “They could prove especially important on days when there aren’t many people in an office, or when a receptionist is away from the front desk.”

Board members discussed several security-related questions before voting to approve the proposal. Lyon County Commissioner Rick Anderson asked about response time and how an activated interview room button relates to other emergency protocol.

Pipestone County Commissioner Dan Wildermuth asked about the benefits of silent alarms compared to those that immediately ring like a fire bell. Further discussion followed that pointed out how the out-loud option could potentially deter someone but could also make a situation worse if the individual panics.

“It’s a substantial amount of money and an important decision,” Wildermuth said. “If we approve it today, we should know that we’re buying what we need.”

Wildermuth and several other board members noted that they’re completely in favor of having emergency activation available in all county-based interview rooms

Approval was granted after Wilms said the project will be a valuable step toward evaluating the benefits of silent alarms compared to out loud ones, and for considering any potential adjustments to overall emergency protocol.

She said after Wednesday’s meeting that the alarm vendor who offered the lowest quote at $4,535 will be contacted this week. Installation is likely to be completed within the next month.

Pam VanOverbeke, a community-based board member from Lincoln County, asked about the eventual value of alarm systems that alert employees and clients in office locations that could be in the path of a security incident. Wilms replied that such system expansions will depend on both evaluations related to the level of need and on total installation costs.

“It could be a second step,” said Lyon County Commissioner and SHHS Governing Board Chairman Charlie Sanow prior to calling for the vote. “For now, this is the step we need to take.”