1/12/18 – 5:03 A.M.

A long-planned change in Hancock County’s phone systems is coming this year. The Hancock County Commissioners plan on swapping out old analog systems with digital services by September. The price tag for the change is more than $800,000.

The commissioners heard from county IT manager Curt Smith Thursday. Smith says the plan calls for replacing nearly 300 handsets and more than 300 phone lines.

The county can lease the equipment for a price of around $7,700 a month.