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Sheriff and fire leaders seek radio upgrades; commissioners appoint Gilmore to county radio workgroup
Summary
Officials warned that statewide radio encryption and agencies'moves to 800 MHz threaten interoperability; commissioners appointed Nick Gilmore to a workgroup with the sheriff and dispatch and heard a separate request from the Saint Paul fire chief for countywide handheld radios.
County public-safety officials briefed the commission on two related communications issues: state-driven encryption changes that could disrupt interoperability with neighboring agencies, and a fire-department request to acquire used handheld radios being retired by a neighboring county.
A county public-safety official said many agencies have migrated to 800 MHz and that a federal/state mandate requiring encryption (and related technical changes) could leave the county's older portable and mobile radios unable to communicate with neighboring departments, the hospital and state patrol units during mutual-aid incidents. The speaker described ballpark equipment costs: portables quoted at roughly $6,400 each and mobile units $1,500 each, with additional infrastructure (antenna, link equipment) costs that could be substantial. The official asked that one commissioner be appointed to work with dispatch and the sheriff on planning and potential grant writing; the commission appointed Commissioner Nick Gilmore to a workgroup to evaluate radio upgrades and related tower/infrastructure needs.
In public comment, Wyatt, Saint Paul fire chief, said Anderson County is decommissioning a set of DMR hand-held radios and offered to buy 50 used units at about $50 each; he asked the commission to consider funding or coordinating purchase and distribution of the radios to county volunteer departments to improve interoperability on the county's fire system. Chief Wyatt said he would handle programming and distribution if the radios were purchased.
Commission action: The commission approved appointing Nick Gilmore to work with the sheriff and dispatch on radio planning. Commissioners asked staff to pursue a meeting with state representatives and to track any forthcoming grants that may offset equipment costs.
Ending: Staff and commissioners agreed to reconvene on radio needs and potential grant matches after initial workgroup discussions and an upcoming meeting with state radio representatives.
