Communication is about to get better around the Pike County Courthouse and everybody will benefit.

The commission representatives opened bids last Tuesday for a new telephone system for the county courthouse and jail. Of the two companies that placed bids — Troy Cablevision, Inc., and CenturyLink — the bid was awarded to CenturyLink in the amount of $58,999.43.

Harry Sanders, county administrator, said during the commission’s Monday meeting the phone system at the courthouse had recurring problems and needed to be updated.

“It’s just like with anything that is heavily used, at some point you will have to replace it,” Sanders said.

The phone system has been in use for more than 10 years and, according to Sanders, needed to be updated for business purposes.

“The new system ensures that all the folks that handle business through the phones, which includes the Probate office, the Revenue Commissioner’s office and the Sheriff’s office, will have a reliable means of communication that will help facilitate smooth operations,” Sanders said. “A lot of the data is carried through the phone systems. Important information delivered via the Internet is also dependent upon the phone system.”

Sanders said the phone system is important to maintain an exceptional means of doing business, which will in turn help many Pike County residents when they need services from the courthouse.

Commissioners will meet Thursday, July 14, to discuss redistricting, which will focus on the new population census and how it will affect county lines.

The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Pike County Health Department on the second floor in the large conference room, the same room the county commission meets.

On Tuesday, July 19, a town hall meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Pike County Courthouse with state Sen. Bryan Taylor.

The meeting will present Pike County citizens with an opportunity to address questions or concerns with the state senator.

The next Pike County Commission meeting will be held July 25.