New Lehigh County commissioners Sheila Alvarado, Jon Irons and April Riddick recited their oaths and took their seats Jan. 10.

The light meeting that followed focused on two important resources for first responders: Investing in the K-9 program and exploring the use of video for 911 calls.

Geoff Brace said, “The administration announced today the unveiling of the 911 Center being able to initiate video calls when someone calls and the dispatcher sees a need, can turn the call from a voice conversation into a video conversation. We are going to be initiating this without costs to the taxpayer.”

Brace said he believed Lehigh is the first county in the state “to come online” this way.

Board members discussed the role of K-9 officers and accepted a donation of $12,413.64 from Lehigh Valley K-9s for the office of the district attorney’s K-9 project.

Commissioner Ron Beitler, one of the resolution’s sponsors, told his colleagues, “I got to understand the importance of these K-9 officers over the years, way back in the day when Macungie Borough got one, and subsequently the retirement of Officer Sammy. They are officers. The dogs are officers of the law.”

Brace said K-9 officers, “help to open up conversations with the public and allow for outreach opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t exist. They are officers, but the officers are trained in such a way that outside of the duties they perform, whether it be for, you know, illicit drugs or human trafficking purposes, you are interacting with a dog who has been specially trained, yes, but it’s a dog that allows you to see the functions of law enforcement in a different way.

“These K-9s are always a hit when elementary schools are involved in these outreach opportunities,” Brace concluded.

Under old business, further extensions of temporary wage increase for certain employees within the 911 Communications Center, Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation, and the Department of Corrections were approved.