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Spokane County public works proposes radio system replacement, estimates roughly $577,000 in capital costs
Summary
Public‑works staff told the board the county’s radio fleet is long overdue for replacement and proposed a UHF system with new towers, vehicle and handheld units; staff quoted equipment costs of $466,000 plus roughly $81,000 in licensing/engineering and sales tax and said radios would be a one‑time purchase with reduced long‑term costs.
Public‑works staff presented a plan to replace an aging radio system used by maintenance, preservation and flagging crews. The presenter said the system the county currently uses was inherited from the sheriff’s office more than 20 years ago and that coverage gaps create safety concerns for crews working in remote or mountainous areas.
Key features cited: the county would move to UHF frequencies for faster licensing and better coverage; a mix of vehicle‑mounted and handheld radios (the presenter listed about 150 vehicle‑mounted units and 45 handhelds) would support summer operations and construction inspection crews; three initial towers were proposed (Krell, Scoop Mountain/Stephens County area, Mount Spokane) with the ability to add towers later.
Cost and timeline: the presenter listed an equipment cost of $466,000 and said licensing, engineering and other costs add roughly $81,000 (sales tax included). The presenter also stated verbally "we're at $577" when summarizing the total, and said the radios could be available in 60–90 days and installed by mid‑summer, with long‑term maintenance handled by the county radio shop. Commissioners asked about alternatives such as cell phones and satellites; staff said radios remain preferable for multi‑user, real‑time coordination in field operations and noted most maintenance crews do not have county‑issued cell phones.
Why it matters: improved coverage would reduce known safety gaps for roadside and mountain work and could lower long‑term communication costs if the county maintains its own equipment and shop capacity. Commissioners asked about expected service life (staff discussed manufacturer guidance of roughly 10 years with longer lifespans possible for vehicle units) and potential partnerships with the City of Spokane to offset costs.
What’s next: staff will continue procurement work, explore city partnership options and return with recommended contract language and final cost estimates for board approval.
