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Appomattox supervisors approve up to $530,000 for public‑safety radio and tower upgrades
Summary
After a multi‑part presentation, the board approved purchases and upgrades for county radio equipment and tower access not to exceed $530,000 to expand coverage and replace aging radios. Fire and EMS equipment and a regional Harris radio for ambulance‑hospital communications were part of the request.
Appomattox County supervisors voted to approve purchases and upgrades for the county's public‑safety radio system not to exceed $530,000, following a presentation from public safety leaders about coverage gaps and aging equipment.
Public safety staff told the board the county has already invested several hundred thousand dollars in upgrades but still needs additional tower access and replacement radios to improve coverage in low‑signal areas such as river corridors and around the 4‑H center. The presentation noted testing on a proposed tower site on Highway 60 and planned work at a Pamplin tower to extend reliable mobile coverage.
Fire Chief Jonathan Garrett (identified in the meeting list of presenters as the county fire chief) presented a vendor quote of about $241,648 to replace roughly 73 radios for the fire department and rescue squad. Presenters also said adding the county's four ambulances to a regional hospital radio system will require a Harris radio package quoted at $21,000 plus an estimated subscription cost of roughly $300–$500 per radio per year. Animal control and volunteer rescue units were noted as separate needs with additional quotes still being finalized (an animal control figure of about $25,000 was mentioned as preliminary).
Board members discussed whether to approve each component separately or as a single package and emphasized cost‑pressure from rising prices for cabling and materials. Reverend Joseph moved to approve the purchases and upgrades for radios and towers not to exceed $530,000; Mr. Westkill seconded. The motion passed on the board's recorded voice/roll‑call vote.
The board directed staff to proceed with contract and procurement steps necessary to implement the vendor quotes and tower leases, with the intent to phase purchases to match available funding. County staff said some costs are estimates and final pricing will be documented in procurement contracts.
Next steps: staff will finalize vendor contracts and report back to the board with implementation timelines and any subscription or recurring costs that require future budget action.
