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Council approves funding for four MedStar radios to meet new statewide standard
Summary
Brandon City Council agreed to fund four handheld radios for MedStar at $4,200 each after staff explained a statewide radio-technology change; council limited the purchase to four units now with the possibility of adding the remaining two later.
Council discussed a request from MedStar to purchase new radios that operate on a newer system designed to improve in-building radio coverage. Brian (city staff) said MedStar requested six radios at "$4,200 a piece" but could function with four for now.
Council members noted the expense was not budgeted and debated whether such requests should arrive earlier in the budget cycle. One council member said ambulance services typically lose money on 911 operations and that private ambulance services are obligated to run 911; another member said the public-safety benefit in schools and large buildings justified funding at least a partial set of radios.
A motion carried to approve funding for four radios at $4,200 each as a public-safety expense. Staff said the broader migration to the new system would be phased in over two to three years and that the city planned to replace or upgrade other units over time.
