Ramsey County approves Motorola radio purchase using ARPA funds to replace end‑of‑life units

The Ramsey County Commission voted to purchase Motorola radios to replace ageing units used by local first responders, county staff said.

Chris Jager, a Ramsey County staff member who presented the item, told commissioners the Motorola quote totaled approximately $332,619.27 and that the county has $250,000 allocated from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the upgrade. That leaves an estimated shortfall of $82,619.27 to be covered by county funds carried from prior years, Jager said.

The commission approved a motion to proceed with the purchase after discussion and a voice vote. Commissioners did not record individual roll‑call votes for this motion; the chair declared the motion carried after commissioners voted "aye."

Why it matters: county staff said many of the radios currently in use are past end of life and no longer supported by Motorola, creating a communications risk for emergency responders. Jager warned some units are unsupported and that the vendor’s delivery timeline is uncertain, with anecdotal reports ranging from six months to a year for fulfillment.

Commission discussion and logistics

Jager said the Motorola order covers most frontline responders and includes units for small jurisdictions and teams, and that he believed about 43 radios appeared on the invoice. He told the commission the county must place orders early because ARPA funds must be obligated by the end of the federal spending window and staff expected the purchase would need to be ordered before March to ensure the ARPA allocation could be used.

On the rebate and funding side, Jager and county staff said the county must pay the vendor up front and then submit paperwork to the state for a Motorola rebate program; the rebate is expected to return money to the county’s fund once processed. County staff member Candy confirmed the rebate proceeds would be returned to county funds after submission to the state.

County staff also said Motorola offers a per‑unit rebate (staff cited $1,500 per radio) and that turnaround for rebate processing varies; Sheriff Lang was mentioned as having experienced a rapid rebate turnaround in a prior system implementation. The vendor’s shipping and programming detail spans multiple pages in the supplier quote, staff said.

Timing, scope and next steps

Staff requested authorization to move forward with ordering and payment. Commissioners expressed frustration that the purchase represents an additional county expense driven by expiring equipment and stressed the interoperability need when neighboring departments must communicate with each other. Staff noted that some radios are single‑band 800 MHz units while others include additional frequency capability depending on the unit ordered.

The commission approved the purchase by voice vote and did not attach conditions beyond standard procurement and funding procedures. Staff said they will place the order, pay the invoice from county funds and then seek the state rebate reimbursement as required.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to purchase Motorola radios (quote approximately $332,619.27) using available ARPA funds ($250,000) and county reserves to cover the remainder: approved by voice vote; motion carried.

Clarifying details: approximate counts, funding and schedule

- Quoted vendor total: approximately $332,619.27 (invoice text read as a three‑hundred‑thirty‑two‑thousand figure; staff provided this as the total). - ARPA allocation identified for the purchase: $250,000. - Funding shortfall noted by staff: roughly $82,619.27 to be covered from funds carried from prior years. - Approximate radios in the order: staff identified about 43 units on the invoice. - Motorola rebate discussed: staff cited a $1,500 per‑radio rebate program; county must pay vendor, submit rebate paperwork to the state, and await reimbursement. - Estimated vendor lead time: uncertain; staff reported informal experience ranges from six months to about a year, with no firm delivery estimate from Motorola on the day of the meeting.

What the vote does and does not do

The commission’s vote authorized staff to proceed with the vendor purchase and to use the identified ARPA allocation and county funds carried forward to complete payment. The vote does not bind future commissions to additional radio purchases, nor does it change policy on radio standards, programming, or future equipment replacement schedules. Staff said they will manage the procurement, payment, and rebate submission processes and will report updates to the commission as necessary.

Ending

County staff said they would move forward with the order to avoid warranty and support losses and to maintain interoperability for fire, ambulance and other emergency responders. Commissioners approved the purchase and asked staff to keep the board updated on delivery timing and rebate reimbursement.