Washington County committee backs radio grant program and approves $60,000 West Bend Fire request

The Washington County Public Safety Committee on July 16 voted to advise staff and the county board that the Washington County Radio Grant Program is important and should be continued, and approved a $60,000 grant request from the West Bend Fire Department.

A committee member moved that the public-safety committee recommend continued existence and funding of the program; the motion carried after discussion noting the program was created to support shared services. Chief of Public Safety Sager called the program a "very successful" shared-service effort appreciated by municipal partners.

Committee discussion noted that the radio-system project is currently running under budget, though not as far under as initially expected, and that the overall project cutover is expected in the October–November timeframe. A committee member warned the available savings may be less than anticipated and suggested timing the release of radios (for example, not paying for a unit until it is needed) as a way to manage cashflow.

When West Bend Fire requested $60,000 to purchase radios through Gencom General Communications (the vendor the county typically uses), a supervisor moved to approve; Supervisor Krieger Gundrum moved the West Bend grant motion and Supervisor Berg seconded. Committee members were told the $60,000 request would deplete the remaining funds in the radio grant account. The motion carried.

No additional conditions or payment schedule were recorded in the meeting minutes; committee members asked staff to monitor overall project funding and timing as the consolidation and system cutover proceed.