diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index 8a265dcba0..80eaeb23f6 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -23,7 +23,49 @@
 import sys
 import yaml
 
-from volttron.platform.agent.utils import execute_command
+# Copied from volttron.platform.agent.util because it is not required
+# that volttron be installed to utilize this script.
+def execute_command(cmds,
+                    env=None,
+                    cwd=None,
+                    logger=None,
+                    err_prefix=None,
+                    use_shell=False) -> str:
+    """ Executes a command as a subprocess
+
+    If the return code of the call is 0 then return stdout otherwise
+    raise a RuntimeError.  If logger is specified then write the exception
+    to the logger otherwise this call will remain silent.
+
+    :param cmds:list of commands to pass to subprocess.run
+    :param env: environment to run the command with
+    :param cwd: working directory for the command
+    :param logger: a logger to use if errors occure
+    :param err_prefix: an error prefix to allow better tracing through the error message
+    :return: stdout string if successful
+
+    :raises RuntimeError: if the return code is not 0 from suprocess.run
+    """
+
+    results = subprocess.run(cmds,
+                             env=env,
+                             cwd=cwd,
+                             stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+                             stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                             shell=use_shell)
+    if results.returncode != 0:
+        err_prefix = err_prefix if err_prefix is not None else "Error executing command"
+        err_message = "\n{}: Below Command failed with non zero exit code.\n" \
+                      "Command:{} \nStderr:\n{}\n".format(err_prefix,
+                                                          results.args,
+                                                          results.stderr)
+        if logger:
+            logger.exception(err_message)
+            raise RuntimeError(err_message)
+        else:
+            raise RuntimeError(err_message)
+
+    return results.stdout.decode('utf-8')
 
 
 class Mock(MagicMock):
@@ -39,13 +81,13 @@ def __getattr__(cls, name):
 # -- Project information -----------------------------------------------------
 
 project = 'VOLTTRON'
-copyright = '2022, The VOLTTRON Community'
+copyright = '2023, The VOLTTRON Community'
 author = 'The VOLTTRON Community'
 
 # The short X.Y version
-version = '8.2'
+version = '9.0'
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags
-release = '8.2'
+release = '9.0-rc'
 
 
 # -- General configuration ---------------------------------------------------