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Fallon County approves $3,474.70 purchase of batteries and chargers for ambulance radios
Summary
Commissioners authorized a $3,474.70 purchase of replacement batteries and chargers to refurbish existing Apex radios in ambulance service after staff and a vendor advised batteries and chargers — not the radios themselves — are the likely cause of poor performance.
Fallon County Commissioners authorized the purchase of replacement batteries and base chargers for the county’s ambulance radios, approving a $3,474.70 expenditure to refurbish existing radios instead of replacing the handsets.
Staff reported they spoke with a vendor, Eric from TAB, who recommended replacing batteries and chargers before buying new radios because current Apex radios remain serviceable. A presenter said the county’s radios will be nine years old beginning in March and that some units hold little charge — “mine only lasts 2 hours,” one staff member said — degrading on-scene communications. The vendor reportedly planned an on-site review to test radios and chargers and discard units that fail.
Commissioners heard that new batteries and new base chargers should restore performance for several years and would be far less expensive than purchasing an entirely new fleet. One staff member said, “getting new radios is not gonna fix our frequency problem” and recounted that an Apex model is top-of-the-line and has long service life.
A motion was made and seconded to allow staff member Britney to procure the batteries and chargers at a total cost of $3,474.70. The commission voted “aye” and the motion carried unanimously.
Meeting participants also noted a Homeland Security grant application being pursued by county staff that could help defray radio costs in the future. Commissioners directed staff to proceed with the battery-and-charger purchase and to have the vendor test all radios and chargers onsite before ordering additional equipment.
