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County director outlines radio upgrade, portable radio purchases and required EV battery training
Summary
Pittsylvania County staff reported a multi-phase radio system upgrade, a third round of portable radio purchases expected in December and a state-required lithium-ion electric vehicle battery training for all firefighters; county-wide reporting requirements were also discussed.
Pittsylvania County Director Key told the Fire and Rescue Commission Thursday that the county is in the third round of purchasing portable radios, with the new units expected in December and distribution planned for January. When completed, the county expects to have roughly 300 portable radios in service, about half the estimated need.
Director Key said staff hope to finalize paperwork on a countywide radio-system upgrade in November. The project is expected to run about a year, with an anticipated operational target next August. He said the upgrade should be completed without service disruptions and that preventative maintenance on portable radios began Oct. 20; stations were asked to make portables available on scheduled service days.
The commission also discussed a three-year contract approved this week by the Board of Supervisors for maintenance of Striker equipment; Director Key said the contract will lock in pricing and that maintenance will begin in January or February.
On training and reporting requirements, Director Key reminded department leaders that state-required electric-vehicle lithium-ion battery training is mandatory for firefighters and available online. "It just takes a couple hours to sit through it and do it," he said. He also told commissioners about a reporting platform referred to in the meeting as "nearest reporting," which the county has been implementing since September and which must be operational by January; failure to report could affect Aid to Localities (ATL) funding after next July.
Director Key also distributed packets for Aid to Localities funding (state funds passed through the county) and for 4-for-Life EMS funding. He said ATL was about $15,000 per department and that 4-for-Life reimbursements are due back in February and do not carry over.
No votes were taken on equipment purchases or training requirements; commissioners were asked to share the training and reporting deadlines with stations and to ensure paperwork for reimbursement programs is completed on schedule.
