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Court reviews countywide fire channel proposal and interim radio fixes
Summary
Newton County discussed a countywide fire radio channel, repeaters and interoperability with the sheriff's dispatch; staff presented quotes and commissioners discussed interim programming of existing radios as a temporary fix.
Newton County staff updated the court on communications infrastructure, including tower and generator work, proposed repeaters for a countywide fire channel and quotes for radios. Staff described a proposed countywide repeater network with sites in Mayflower, Newton, Trout Creek and Duval to provide countywide coverage, and discussed vendor quotes and per-unit radio costs.
Speakers explained options for digital (P25) interoperability, referenced compatibility with sheriff's dispatch, and noted cost estimates: repeaters cited as under $4,000 apiece in one quote and a consolidated countywide project figure of about $55,000 was discussed as an overall implementation estimate. Commissioners asked staff to return with a breakout of costs and agreed there are interim steps—such as programming a few radios to the sheriff's channel—to improve short-term communications while the county seeks funding for the larger system.
Staff and commissioners asked for the item to be placed on an upcoming agenda with a detailed quote breakdown.
