County clarifies 9‑1‑1 radio replacement: not a one‑for‑one swap; volunteers may bear extra costs

County staff told supervisors that the planned replacement of radios for 9‑1‑1 communications was not intended to be a one‑for‑one swap for every apparatus or every person.

At the meeting, a supervisor said she had expected a one‑for‑one replacement; county staff clarified the purchasing plan. "Yes, it was never intended to be a 1 for 1 for all apparatus," a staff member said, adding that certain apparatus would receive replacements and that a number of portables would be provided for leadership and station distribution. Staff said the county will cover the cost for radios it purchases, and volunteer stations that want additional radios beyond the county-provided set can purchase them at the county's contract price.

Staff said career personnel and career apparatus would receive replacements as required, but that not every career employee necessarily has a personal portable radio assigned. The process follows the county’s prior radio replacement practices when equipment standards and apparatus assignments were reviewed.

Supervisors expressed concern that some volunteer stations have fewer radios and that last-minute cost burdens could fall on volunteer organizations if extras are needed. Staff said the county will provide a baseline set of radios and that volunteer stations historically have bought additional units over time if they wanted more than the county-provided allocation.

No vote was taken; staff said they would confirm exact replacement counts for career and volunteer apparatus and will provide details to the board.