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FECC gets green light on Motorola 800 MHz expansion; staffing shortfalls and backup PSAP testing discussed
Summary
The board authorized signature on a Motorola 800 MHz expansion agreement for FECC, funded in part by a federal community project grant. FECC staff reported an anticipated one-year project timeline, a staggered payment schedule, the resignation of the 9‑1‑1 technology program manager and 9‑1‑1 dispatcher vacancies.
Flathead Emergency Communications Center (FECC) staff briefed commissioners April 15 on a planned expansion of the county’s 800 MHz radio system and ongoing operational challenges.
Elizabeth (Liz) Brooks presented the Motorola Solutions 800 MHz expansion communications systems and services agreement and the project budget. The project is estimated at about $2.5 million, with approximately $1.3 million provided by a federal discretionary community project grant secured with assistance from U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke. Brooks described work that will add sites and upgrade an existing site (including Big Mountain) and provide an extra layer of connectivity to the master site in Helena. The board authorized signature so Motorola may proceed with procurement and staging.
Brooks described the contract payment schedule disclosed in staff remarks: 25% (approximately $625,000) due on contract execution, 60% due on equipment shipment from staging, 10% due on installation, and 5% on final acceptance. She also explained that roughly $200,000 of ongoing service/security updates will be paid from the county operating budget rather than CIP.
Brooks reported staffing and operations matters: the county’s 9‑1‑1 technology program manager resigned effective April 30; the FECC has received several solid applications and staff are coordinating interview panels with county and city IT personnel. Brooks said the backup PSAP and associated application were fully functional and would be used for forthcoming staff testing. She also reported nine current 9‑1‑1 dispatcher vacancies (11 full‑time dispatchers on the roster plus one training coordinator and five part‑time staff), several recent resignations/new‑hire attrition, and ongoing recruitment and training efforts including a “good, bad and ugly” orientation used during recruitment.
Nut graf: The commissioners approved moving the Motorola contract forward to allow vendor staging and equipment shipment; staff emphasized both the budgeted multi‑year payments and near‑term hiring needs for FECC operations.
Ending: Staff expect the project to be completed within about a year after equipment shipment and installation; they will proceed with vendor staging and coordinate interviews for the technology manager vacancy.
