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Emergency services seeks seasonal wildfire crew and major radio upgrades; radio microwave cost cited at about $5.06M
Summary
Emergency services proposed a seasonal wildfire mitigation team (3–4 seasonal hires) to perform mitigation and deploy for revenue generation, and asked for communications upgrades including replacement microwave dishes that were quoted at approximately $5,055,000 and replacement SCBAs and turnout gear.
Emergency services presented a two‑part budget pitch on Nov. 12: create a seasonal wildfire mitigation crew to expand mitigation and deploy on state incidents, and invest in radio‑network upgrades and personal protective equipment.
Seasonal crew: The chief asked for 3–4 seasonal employees (April–October) to perform mitigation projects and be available for deployments; he said neighboring counties that adopted similar programs generated revenue through deployments and that the county would not send teams if local coverage was compromised.
Communications and equipment: The department asked for replacement elements of the public‑safety microwave backbone, listing a figure of approximately $5,055,000 to replace two aged dishes and associated infrastructure; staff emphasized that some microwave dishes are more than 20 years old. The department also requested a second tranche of five SCBAs (self‑contained breathing apparatus) to complete an earlier replacement program and five new sets of turnout gear for multiple stations.
Council discussion: Commissioners asked about deployment risks (leaving local coverage thin) and whether revenue from deployments would offset costs; the chief said mission and safety considerations would govern deployment decisions and that deployed teams often generate substantial intergovernmental revenue. No formal approvals were made; staff will include these items for further budget review and prioritization.
