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Board approves $21,000 EMS radio upgrade to restore interoperability
Summary
The Westmoreland County Board approved a $21,000 upgrade to EMS radios using budgeted and grant funds to restore interoperability with neighboring counties, following a staff presentation that identified aging equipment and a plan to beta-test replacements.
The Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a $21,000 update to frontline EMS radios that county staff said will restore interoperability with neighboring jurisdictions.
Chief Blake told the board that several pieces of the county radio system and end-user hardware are no longer supported and that replacements are necessary for responders to communicate with King George, Richmond and Northumberland counties. "We can now comfortably tell you where [our assets] are, the state of the condition they're in," Blake said, and added that technician Sean Manti had produced rapid improvements: "what we've been able to do with him has been short of nothing of a miracle." The chief said the proposed update for frontline medic units is covered by grant funds and money already built into the budget and requires no new allocation from the board.
Board members asked about coverage and system resilience. One supervisor cautioned that a failure of the county's six radio sites could sever communications and stressed the need for countywide "belt coverage," while staff said they are negotiating with vendors, including Motorola and Harris, and will pursue a fiscally responsible long-term solution. Interim county staff said the immediate purchase is limited to EMS radios; broader network backbone upgrades are being explored separately.
The chair called for a motion to accept Chief Blake's recommendation to move forward. The motion was moved and seconded and the board approved the recommendation by voice vote.
The upgrade proceeds as staff continues vendor negotiations, further testing with the volunteer fire department and more detailed proposals to the board on backbone microwave and long-term interoperability options.
