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Limestone County approves $10,000 contingency for digital dispatch communication link
Summary
County commissioners approved using up to $10,000 in contingency funds to install a digital communication link for emergency dispatch after officials said the device will ensure emergency “panic”/hold buttons work during incidents.
Limestone County commissioners approved using up to $10,000 in contingency funds to install a digital communication link for the county dispatch center, county officials said during the meeting. The device is intended to support emergency functions on handheld radios after recent incidents exposed failures in existing equipment.
The county official presenting the item said the device — described as a digital link or MRG unit — will allow emergency buttons on handheld radios to operate correctly and route alerts to dispatch during an incident. The official said a fire department that first transitioned to the county's new digital equipment encountered a situation where the emergency button did not trigger properly on scene, and the device would address that failure.
“It's got a little orange button and it's recessed. That's an emergency button. And you press that and the show the show stops,” the county official said, describing how the emergency button should work when it is functioning. The official said the county had initially been told the device cost about $10,000 and that a quote from an engineering firm would be obtained.
Commissioners discussed funding the purchase through a line item described as contingency and noted a contractual reimbursement stream tied to dispatch services that will free up roughly $10,000 per year in the county budget. The presenter said that under the county's contract with a third party (referred to in the meeting as the party that would reimburse dispatch costs) the county will receive that $10,000 annually and can use it toward this purchase.
A motion to approve the purchase using up to $10,000 from contingency was made and, after discussion, commissioners voiced approval. The judge indicated assent and commissioners said “aye.” The meeting record shows the motion passed. The county said it will obtain written quotes from vendors and an engineering firm before finalizing the purchase.
The discussion also referenced recent shootings in the county and comments from local chiefs and the sheriff about ensuring emergency communications operate reliably; Chief Ramsey and "Chief Crosswind" were named in the discussion as having been consulted, and the presenter said he had spoken with the sheriff about the issue.
