Commissioners hear persistent radio and 911 issues; staff review grants and procurement options

Daniels County commissioners and emergency-services staff spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing two linked problems: failing vehicle radios and procurement options for new radio, console and console-backend equipment tied to the county's 9-1-1 system.

EMS and sheriff's staff reported intermittent two-way radio failures in ambulances and patrol vehicles: vehicles could hear dispatch on a handheld or when parked, yet transmissions from the vehicle cab would sometimes not be received. Staff described troubleshooting steps, including vendor visits and cable/connectivity fixes; intermittent failures persisted and prompted calls for a systems approach rather than piecemeal purchases. Staff warned that replacing only selected handhelds might not resolve the core issue if site consoles, tower paths or backend routing remain outdated.

Commission staff and a consultant summarized potential funding sources for replacement radios/consoles and related infrastructure. Options discussed included the USDA Community Facilities Grant (eligible in some circumstances for municipal communications equipment), state Homeland Security subgrants administered through Montana DES, vendor grant‑assistance programs (companies that help package grant applications and coordinate procurement, sometimes tied to sole‑source procurement on vendor fleets), and a Montana Department of Transportation emergency medical services grant that allows 10% local matching funds for patient‑care and communications equipment. Staff also cited MSIP/MSAP planning grants as a way to fund a capital improvements plan that would list county equipment needs and priorities.

County and dispatch staff discussed the currently planned Motorola-related procurement: a new dispatch console and backend (the county has a console upgrade and a larger regional project), and what elements would be part of a county capital purchase versus what the city or regional partners would supply. County staff said vendor proposals sometimes include multiple pieces (console, training, remote management, mobile radios) and that using a state procurement vehicle can simplify purchasing but can draw vendor objections. Some vendors had delayed equipment shipments, and staff noted lead times and compatibility concerns.

Several commissioners asked staff to investigate a fiber service procurement the county could run to the dispatch center so the new console/backend would run on a high‑bandwidth, low‑latency link. County IT and dispatch staff agreed fiber could remove some variables and speed interagency interoperability; staff said they had preliminary fiber quotes and would continue exploring procurement and grant bundling. No formal procurement decision was made; staff were directed to refine grant and procurement options and return to the board with a recommended path for replacing radio/console infrastructure and for prioritizing unit purchases so that ambulances and patrol cars remain operable.