Safety committee approves purchase of tracking-capable radios under budget

The McMinnville Safety Committee approved a purchase of tracking-capable radios for public-safety vehicles and portable use, a staff member said.

A staff member told the committee the request was to “purchase 39 mobile tracking radios, 3 dual-band portable tracking radios, and 8 single-band portable tracking radios, to include the installation and programming.” The staff member said the radios are on the statewide contract and that the cost, including installation and programming, was stated as $239,003.22, compared with $250,000 that had been budgeted for the project.

The committee briefly discussed the county’s existing radios and how they would be used during the transition. A staff member said about 60% of current equipment is already tracking-capable through prior grant purchases and that older portables previously in use had been given to corrections officers. The staff member also said the mobile units currently in vehicles would continue to be used “so we can use both radios” during the transition.

A motion to approve the purchase was made and seconded; after a short discussion the committee chair called for a vote. A staff member vocalized “Aye,” and the chair declared the motion carried. The staff member had asked that the item be placed on the next full agenda so it could proceed.

The committee adjourned after the vote.