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Trenton Fire Department to buy new portable radios after grants fell short
Summary
Fire Chief Anderson requested and the council approved buying replacement Kenwood portable radios and related software to maintain firefighter communications; the purchase will use fund balance and staff will seek grants for future replacements.
Trenton’s City Council authorized the Trenton Fire Department on July 7 to buy replacement portable radios after grant attempts failed to cover the full need.
Fire Chief Anderson told the council the department has older Kenwood portables that are no longer supported by the manufacturer and that parts for repairs are increasingly unavailable. The department said it had applied for grant funding — including a 2024 grant still pending — but had not secured enough to replace its radios.
The city presented a Digicom quote for five Kenwood portable radios at $26,748.28 and additional software that staff said is now required because the Downriver radio system will be turned over to state management. The total request presented to the council was $33,398.28; staff said the purchase will come from fund balance with the intent to pursue grants in future budget cycles to replace additional units.
Chief Anderson said the radios in service are roughly 10–12 years old and that software updates now provide required functionality instead of wholesale radio replacement in some cases. Council members asked about life expectancy; the chief said roughly 10–12 years remains typical for the older units and that software upgrades are a newer requirement to interface with the state system.
The council moved and supported the purchase; the motion was recorded as unanimously approved.
Why it matters: the radios are critical for on-scene firefighter communications and interoperability with regional systems, and staff framed the purchase as a safety necessity because manufacturer support for current radios is ending.
Next steps: staff will complete the procurement and continue applying for grants to fund replacement of remaining radios in future years.
