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County radio upgrade moves toward completion of 11-site network; staff urged to market tower space
Summary
Project manager reported progress on three newly built towers and an 11‑site configuration for a countywide radio system; commissioners asked staff to prepare technical marketing materials and to finalize site closings and microwave links.
Sagadahoc County’s public-safety radio upgrade is progressing toward a countywide, 11-site network that project staff expect to interconnect by roughly the first quarter of 2026, the county’s project manager told commissioners.
Why it matters: The upgraded network—when fully interconnected—will convert the system to simulcast so portable and mobile radios can transmit across the county without hand-offs between repeaters, improving coverage and interoperability for emergency responders.
Project status: Norm Boucher, the project manager, reported that three new towers have reached major construction milestones. The West Bath site’s compound, power and shelter are largely complete and expected to be ready for occupancy in early August; Georgetown’s tower construction began and is expected to finish in September. Other sites are at various stages: one purchase-and-sale agreement is signed and staff are awaiting closing paperwork, while another town (Gardner) is reorganizing counsel after the owner’s law firm closed.
The upgrade includes a new microwave backbone to link the sites back to dispatch. Boucher said legacy sites already have replacement radio equipment installed where needed; the full network—11 interconnected sites—will enable simulcast coverage countywide. He estimated network go‑live “in the first quarter” (projected January–March 2026), while noting delivery lead times for some components can be several weeks to months.
Commercial use and revenue: Commissioners discussed making tower space available to commercial carriers. Commissioner August asked staff to proactively prepare the technical and contractual information carriers need rather than waiting for inbound inquiries; Boucher said towers should be rentable soon after tower completion, subject to power delivery and site readiness.
Next steps and oversight: Staff will finalize closings and contractor access at purchased tower parcels, order long‑lead radio/microwave equipment, and assemble a technical/marketing packet for potential carriers. The board approved related purchase and lease documents earlier in the meeting.
Ending: The project manager said the new system will significantly expand coverage and should generate user feedback once it goes live. Commissioners asked for coverage-percentage modeling and tighter timelines for staff follow-up in the coming weeks.
