Butler County’s 911 emergency dispatch system is getting a new communicator that uses artificial intelligence technology to translate foreign languages.

The county commissioners approved the $23,730 purchase, which includes a $1,500 set-up fee, of a communicator module from RapidSOS.

The new module will replace the existing unit from Prepared, which was used to send text messages to callers whose calls to 911 were dropped, said Steve Bicehouse, emergency services director.

The RapidSOS module does that and provides translation services, he said.

If someone sends a text to 911 in one of 35 foreign languages, the module translates the message into English for the dispatcher. The dispatcher then types a response in English, and the module translates the message to the caller in the foreign language using an AI voice, Bicehouse said.

When someone calls 911 on their cellphone speaking in a foreign language, the call is translated for the dispatcher. The message the dispatcher types back to the caller is translated using the AI voice, he said.

The text-to-text service includes 150 languages. AI translates incoming text messages for dispatchers and highlights keywords such as fire and gun to ensure dispatchers don’t miss something important, he said

The number of languages the system can translate will increase over time, he added.

“AI is a rapidly evolving technology that’s very beneficial to us. So we’re trying to be the most judicious that we can to get the right tools for the future so or staff can do the job the best that they can,” Bicehouse said.

The commissioners approved the submission of a $930,825 Community Development Block Grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the county and the five entitlement communities — Jackson, Jefferson, Penn, Slippery Rock and Summit townships.

The commissioners approved the closing of the purchase of Ritzert Hall, the social hall of a former church, at 426 E. Main St. in Evans City, for $750,000 from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. Already home to the Evans City Senior Center, the building will eventually become the new home for district court 50-3-06, currently located at 202 E. Main St., and a civic training center.

A three-year contract was approved with Waste Management for collecting garbage and recyclable materials at county-owned properties. The company submitted the lowest of two bids — $64,197 for 2025, $66,941 for 2026 and $69,580 in 2027.

The commissioners replaced longtime Butler Transit Authority board member Joseph Hasychak by appointing Christine McGregor to a five-year term, and replaced longtime Pittsburgh Butler Regional Airport Authority board member Victor Green by appointing Mark Bicker to a five-year term.

The commissioners also accepted a Lafayette Trail marker from Lafayette Inc. that will be placed in front of the courthouse.