Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Communications topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cass County approves Motorola service contract and tower antenna removal
Summary
The Cass County Commission approved a one-year Motorola maintenance agreement for its public safety radio system and authorized removal of abandoned antennas from a local tower, citing proprietary equipment needs and a vendor price increase.
The Cass County Commission on Monday approved a one-year service agreement with Motorola Solutions and authorized a contractor quote to remove abandoned antennas from a local tower.
Brian Zasteful, Radio Systems Coordinator for Cass County, told commissioners the county’s public-safety radio system uses proprietary Motorola equipment that requires a service agreement. He said the current contract had expired in July and the new annual maintenance price is $33,142.16, an increase of about 8.1% over the prior year. Zasteful said the vendor attributed the change to internal costs and offered the county the option to pursue a multiyear agreement to reduce annual increases.
The commission also approved a $8,500 quote from Diamond Tower to decommission antennas the county left on a tower at 315 Main in Fargo after abandoning equipment there in preparation for a lease expiration. Zasteful said the owner requires the antennas be removed as a “housekeeping” requirement.
Commissioner Flacco moved to approve both purchases and to ask the county administrator to explore multiyear agreements; the motion was approved on a roll call vote recorded as Aye by Commissioners Vettel, Grinberg, Capitan, Flacknell and Breitling.
Zasteful told the board that Motorola is the sole vendor able to support the county’s proprietary equipment, leaving no practical alternatives. Commissioners asked whether multiyear contracting would likely reduce the annual percentage increases; Zasteful said multiyear terms could lower annual increases and recommended the county pursue options proactively rather than waiting for the vendor.
The action funds the maintenance agreement and the tower removal. Zasteful said the county did not have a year-by-year vendor increase history beyond noting a 4% increase from 2023 to 2024 and the current 8.1% increase.
Commissioners and staff did not raise any conditions attaching to the service agreement’s approval. The county administrator was directed to explore multiyear contracting options for future consideration.
Votes at a glance: the motion to approve the Motorola service agreement for $33,142.16 and the antenna removal quote for $8,500 carried on a roll call vote (Aye: Vettel; Aye: Grinberg; Aye: Capitan; Aye: Flacknell; Yes: Breitling).
