Council approves $136,441.62 radio upgrade after county digital migration

The Sutherland City Council approved the purchase of replacement portable and base radios for the police department, with a purchase price of $136,441.62 after negotiations that Mills said saved about $83,000 versus early estimates. Chief Troy Mills explained the county is migrating its radio system to a digital standard requiring agencies to update equipment; the department must have compatible radios in service when the county system goes online in March (year given in staff report).

Mills said the original estimate was $220,000 and that “I was able to save the city actually $83,000,” noting the department purchased portable radios and selected Motorola mobile radios for patrol cars because only one vendor offered a 100‑watt mobile radio required to maintain coverage across the local mountainous terrain. He said portables and base station equipment were purchased and that mobile installations will require vehicle trips north for programming and installation; Mills estimated installation cost was included in the vendor estimate but could vary depending on vehicle configurations.

Council voted to approve the purchase; Councilor Woods recorded an abstention on the vote and the motion otherwise carried: Councilor Daigle, Councilor Sarnoski, Councilor Smalley, Councilor Hamilton, Councilor Whitaker and the Mayor (name not specified) voted “Aye.” Mills said failure to procure compatible radios could leave the department unable to communicate with county dispatch when the system migrates.

The council did not change the budget source; Mills said funding had been set aside in the current budget for the replacement.