Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City emergency management warns county of multi‑million‑dollar radio replacement options; county share of EM budget to drop slightly
Summary
City emergency management presented the city/county emergency management budget and warned that the city’s radio infrastructure is at end‑of‑life with Motorola quotes in the millions. The city proposed cuts and alternatives; the county’s 50% share of emergency management shows a net proposed decrease before any final city decisions.
Ryan Jerkner, the city’s emergency management representative, presented the joint emergency management budget and the radio‑operations budget to the commissioners. He said the county funds 50% of the emergency management operating budget and that the city’s radio infrastructure is aging: recent quotes from Motorola to replace key infrastructure range into the millions and, depending on options, were discussed in the $8–16 million range for city‑side work.
Jerkner said the city and county jointly administer the Motorola SUA and that the city is exploring other options that may be less expensive. He told the court the EM operating lines the county funds showed a net decrease in proposed county charges for FY‑26 of about $48,000 (city‑level rework of line items created the net). He noted that final county impacts depend on city manager and council decisions about the radio program going forward.
Why it matters: The county’s emergency management operations are interlinked with the city, and the radio system replacement is a large capital issue that, if addressed jointly, would have significant fiscal implications.
What’s next: The city and county will continue to evaluate radio system alternatives; the county’s share of the emergency management operating budget will be finalized after the city’s internal decisions and any contract options are considered.
