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Wagoner County approves upgrades to 911 radio sites, authorizes monitoring and UPS maintenance
Summary
County commissioners approved purchases to restore capacity at several 800 MHz radio sites, authorized remote monitoring for radio sites and the 911 server room, and approved UPS battery replacements and an annual maintenance agreement; separate actions on tower lighting and broader tower maintenance were tabled or left for further review.
Wagoner County commissioners on Feb. 20 approved a package of purchases and service agreements aimed at restoring and protecting county 800-megahertz radio and 911 infrastructure, citing recent outages and the risk to public-safety communications.
The board approved purchase of two L3Harris power modules (sole-source) at a total of $4,018 ($2,009 each) to restore capacity at two radio channels, authorized deployment of a site-monitoring system for radio sites and the 911 server room, approved replacement of UPS batteries at two remote communication sites, and approved an annual UPS maintenance agreement covering dispatch and remote radio sites for $6,001.61.
Why it matters: commissioners and staff said the county currently lacks remote monitoring at multiple radio sites and in the 911 server room, leaving high-value equipment unmonitored and creating a risk of extended outages that could affect dispatch and field responders.
Mark Ketchum, a radio-systems technician hired by the sheriff’s office to assess county communications, told commissioners that the county had no monitoring in place at the radio sites and 911 server room. "Currently, today, we have no monitoring systems in place at any of the radio sites and also in our 911 Server Room," Ketchum said, describing temperature, humidity, airflow and door sensors that would provide early alerts.
Ketchum and the county also described failed or aging UPS batteries and power modules that had reduced channel capacity at several sites. He recommended replacing failed controllers and converting aging strobe lighting at the Yonkers tower to an LED system with new monitoring.
Commissioners approved the L3Harris power modules and the monitoring purchase in recorded votes. They also approved the UPS battery replacements at the Yonkers and a second site, and authorized a one-year UPS maintenance contract to bring the remote UPS units back under an annual service plan. The motions recorded unanimous aye votes by present commissioners on those items.
Not all work moved forward immediately. Discussion of replacement lighting at the Yonkers tower revealed that a purchase order for equipment had already been issued through a vendor; commissioners then voted to table further action on the tower-lighting install and installation vendor selection so staff could obtain additional quotes and confirm FAA notification and licensing steps. Separately, a proposal for annual tower structural maintenance and inspection was discussed and left with no action so staff could gather additional bids and details.
Commissioners also considered but later rescinded a motion on generator remote monitoring for all communication sites; the board took no action on that item at this meeting and asked staff to follow up with alternative vendors and pricing.
Actions recorded at the meeting included motions to approve the L3Harris power modules (motion: approve purchase; mover: James; seconder: Tim; tally: yes 3; outcome: approved), to approve Avtech-style environmental and server-room monitoring (motion: approve purchase; mover: Tim; seconder: James; tally: yes 3; outcome: approved), to approve UPS battery replacement at Yonkers and the other site (motion: approve replacement; mover: Tim; seconder: James; tally: yes 3; outcome: approved), and to approve the UPS annual maintenance agreement for all listed sites ($6,001.61) (motion: approve; mover: James; seconder: Tim; tally: yes 3; outcome: approved). A separate motion to table the Yonkers tower lighting installation and vendor selection was approved (mover: James; seconder: Tim; outcome: tabled). A previously made motion regarding generator monitoring was rescinded and no action was taken.
Commissioners directed staff to get additional written proposals, confirm FAA notification and timelines for any lighting work at the Yonkers tower, and to consolidate maintenance contracts where practical. Sheriff Chris Elliott introduced Ketchum and said the sheriff’s office will coordinate follow-up work.
The board’s moves follow multiple reports of degraded equipment and recent weather-related strains. Staff and vendors will return with written quotes, warranties and procurement paperwork at a future meeting.
