Perkins signs on to county 800 MHz radio system agreement to improve communications
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Summary
The City of Perkins approved an agreement with the Payne County Board of Commissioners to receive radio equipment and participate in maintenance of the county's new 800 MHz radio system; the city will receive about 115 subscriber units to equip fire, police and emergency management.
Perkins commissioners on Oct. 14 approved an agreement with the Payne County Board of Commissioners to participate in the county's new 800 MHz radio system, accepting radio equipment and agreeing to shared maintenance.
City staff said the county purchased the system with ARPA funds and that the county will provide about 115 subscriber units (handheld and mobile radios) to Perkins for fire, police and emergency management. For the first two years there will be no maintenance charge; thereafter, agencies will contribute to ongoing operating and maintenance costs based on the number of subscriber units.
Officials said the new 800 MHz system is a major upgrade intended to reduce dead spots and improve in-building coverage compared with the city's older radio infrastructure. The sheriff's office, highway patrol and other regional partners have adopted similar systems; staff said the county invested a large amount in the regional upgrade and that interagency coordination will be required for long-term funding.
The agreement specifies that the city will use existing tower space (the project will use multiple towers across the county) and that the radios already are stored at the sheriff's office pending scheduling for vehicle installations. Staff said Motorola is expected to perform professional installation of radios in vehicles.
Commissioners discussed possible future maintenance costs and noted the county has used a special fire sales tax contribution to absorb a portion of the system cost for fire agencies. The recorded motion to approve the county-county equipment and maintenance participation agreement passed by recorded vote.
