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County to share study cost to map radio dead spots after agencies report handheld coverage gaps
Summary
Spencer County and local emergency agencies agreed to split the cost of a communications study to identify handheld radio coverage gaps and potential sites for repeaters or antenna upgrades.
Spencer County Fiscal Court members agreed at the Feb. 3 meeting to participate in a professional communications study to map handheld radio dead spots across the county after reports from fire, EMS and sheriff's personnel of unreliable handheld coverage in several rural areas.
Emergency agencies had brought VEI Communications to survey coverage, and the vendor provided a map of water-tower and cell-tower assets. The study will cost about $3,000 and the city, county and one or more partner agencies agreed to split the expense roughly three ways. County staff indicated Spencer County's share will be about one-third, with the final split to reflect relative numbers of radios each agency maintains.
The consultant will identify coverage gaps and recommend technical options (additional repeater locations, antennas on existing towers or other infrastructure). Court members said additional capital costs would be discussed later if the study recommended repeaters or other hardware placement that required county funding or permitting.
