By Traci Chapman/Staff Writer

Saying their backs were against the wall, Canadian County commissioners Monday approved a $118,838 bid for a new county phone system despite voicing concerns the price tag was too high.

“I will reluctantly, very reluctantly, agree,” District 2 Commissioner Don Young said.

Callers to the county have had problems reaching county offices for a year, said County Assessor Ronnie Funck. County officials have tried patching the problems, most recently disconnecting voice mail so the switchboard could get incoming calls. Still, callers now often hear 20 to 30 rings before getting an answer.

District 1 Commissioner Phil Carson said his vote to accept the bid was being done on behalf of other county officers.

“I agree that it’s an awful lot of money, and I think it’s tough to do this,” he said. “My vote is to represent the assessor’s office, the court clerk’s office, the treasurer’s office and the county clerk’s office.”

Prior to the vote, commissioners heard from county officers who said they had countless examples of where the system failed to meet the county’s needs.