The WENS, an emergency notification system that sends text message alerts to subscribers, is now a line item in the state budget. This means that counties will not have to pay for the emergency text alerts. Yesterday at the Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting, Washington and Keokuk Counties Emergency Management Coordinator Larry Smith explained there is a $4,250 cost for any administrative uses per county. Some schools in the county and other organizations use the service to send messages to subscribers. No action was taken regarding the cost, as further meetings with entities who use the system will be held.