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Sheriff seeks county support for multi-site radio upgrade, board signals support for RFP and considers vehicle replacement
Summary
The sheriff presented a plan to install DMR repeaters across 5—to—10 sites to vastly improve portable radio coverage countywide and requested the board—s support to issue an RFP; the board also discussed options for replacing a 2015 squad car with significant maintenance needs.
The Richland County sheriff outlined a countywide radio/repeater upgrade intended to improve portable radio coverage and interoperability among law enforcement, fire departments and 911 dispatch. The plan calls for digital mobile radio (DMR) repeaters and P25-capable equipment placed on government-owned towers (water towers where possible) across multiple sites.
The sheriff told the board the county currently has about $350,000 available for the project and the Richland County Emergency Telephone System Board has budgeted another $300,000, for a combined $650,000. He said a comprehensive build-out with radios, repeaters and portables was estimated at roughly $1,100,000; the county has applied for a congressional community project funding request of $500,000 to help reach full funding. With current funds the sheriff estimated the county could start with about five sites and add more if the grant is awarded.
Board members pressed on coverage expectations, the feasibility of placing repeaters on water towers and the need for an additional repeater if the county wants separate emergency or public-safety channels. The sheriff explained portable radios and emergency channels could be provisioned so users can access a countywide emergency channel in a disaster, but adding a third repeater at every site to create completely separate channels would significantly raise costs.
After discussion Speaker 4 asked for a motion to accept/issue the RFP for bids; the board indicated support to proceed. The transcript records broad board support for issuing the RFP as presented.
Separately, the sheriff reported a 2015 squad car suffered a transmission failure; replacement of the transmission was estimated at about $5,100. He outlined options: repair the vehicle, use an available 2013 spare, or purchase a used replacement (estimates $20,000——1,30,000 plus $6,000——10,000 to upfit equipment). The sheriff asked for the board—s blessing to pursue procurement and to present a firm not-to-exceed number at the next meeting; members agreed to place the purchase on the next agenda and signaled likely support pending a formal request.
Next steps: staff will post an RFP for the radio project as directed and the sheriff will return next month with firm vehicle-purchase cost estimates and an agenda item for board approval.
