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Finance committee approves $45,660 public-safety radio study and budget amendment
Summary
The Dodge County Finance Committee approved a resolution to hire Tusa Consulting Services for a radio communications study and a $45,660 general-fund budget amendment to emergency management; the vote passed with one abstention. The study aims to evaluate coverage and interoperability before larger capital outlays.
The Dodge County Finance Committee voted to authorize a countywide public-safety radio communications study and approved a $45,660 budget amendment from the general fund to Emergency Management to pay for it. The committee approved the resolution and then the fiscal note; one member abstained on the resolution vote.
County leadership told the committee the county’s Public Safety Radio Committee interviewed three vendors in response to an RFP and unanimously recommended Tusa Consulting Services. The sheriff (unnamed in the transcript) said the vendor price in the resolution is $45,660 and that the executive committee approved forwarding the recommendation to the county board.
The sheriff described a recent tactical incident with poor radio coverage that left him unable to communicate with a SWAT commander and said the study will evaluate coverage, interoperability with other agencies (including Watertown), and whether to add equipment or pursue other system changes. “I couldn't communicate with my SWAT commander who was on the ground. It was awful,” the sheriff said, explaining why the assessment is needed before investing in towers or additional equipment.
Committee members asked procedural and planning questions: one member said they abstained at the executive committee because they had not seen an appendix referenced in the packet and felt rushed; others asked whether the effort had been included in the county’s capital improvement plan. Staff replied the towers were on the CIP long-term but the study and timing emerged after the CIP was finalized and that the study would clarify options for including related work in future capital budgets.
The vendor estimated about 90 days after contract completion to deliver the assessment, placing a likely completion around July. The sheriff and staff said the study will analyze entities that operate on the county radio system and will include fire departments and other partners that rely on that system; municipalities with independent radio systems would not be evaluated for their internal systems.
The resolution and the fiscal note were approved in committee; the fiscal note language read that the 2025 budget would increase fund balance applied by $45,660. The committee was advised the matter will also be considered by the full county board.
What’s next: staff will finalize contract details and the study timeline; county board action is required for the budget amendment to take effect.
