Botetourt supervisors approve EMS radio change order tying county system to state police frequencies

Botetourt County supervisors voted Dec. 29 to approve a change order for the county’s long‑running emergency radio upgrade, choosing an option that links the county system with Virginia State Police frequencies while keeping the backup dispatch center on a more basic console.

The board’s action follows public comment both urging caution and urging swift approval. Rachel Hager of Wertz said the technical specifications in engineering documents look similar to the infrastructure used for data centers — citing fiber counts, redundant loops and substation power upgrades — and asked the county to publish full technical specs, list any state or federal grants tied to the project and hold a public workshop before further bids or change orders. "We're assuming permanent debt for an asset that private tenants could later lease for a fraction of our cost," Hager said.

Why it matters: Officials and citizens framed the decision as weighing public‑safety benefits against long‑term financial and regional infrastructure questions. Supporters, including longtime volunteer firefighter and Buckhannon vice mayor James Mancefile, said the aging radio system is at the end of its useful life and that the upgrade is critical for firefighters,…