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County says radio-upgrade towers and dispatch work near completion; on-track for May switch
Summary
Officials reported the county's emergency radio system upgrade is largely installed, with site commissioning planned through February, dispatch console replacement and foliage coverage testing in April and an anticipated May switch-over; staff said one tower site required cleanup and programming but that core coverage held during a recent storm.
County staff updated the Board of Supervisors on the countywide P25 emergency-radio upgrade and said the tower installations and backhaul links are largely complete, with commissioning and dispatch work remaining ahead of a projected May cutover.
Matt (public-safety project lead) and other staff explained that antenna and backhaul work at multiple tower sites is finished and that the project team plans a factory-to-field commissioning in February followed by an acceptance-testing dry run. He told the board the next major work items are dispatch-console replacement and reprogramming of roughly 600 radios countywide.
Matt said a damaged antenna at one site would have needed an expensive short-term repair and that staff chose not to pursue a temporary fix because the device would have required removal again shortly thereafter. He said other sites remained operational and that UPS and generator arrangements were in place to reduce weather-related outages.
"Everything was running okay," Matt said, describing the system's performance through recent weather events. Staff reported they will proceed with programming and local field work in mid-to-late February, with foliage-season coverage testing scheduled for April and a target May switchover if tests are satisfactory.
Officials also reported a $101,250 grant award to the county for cardiac monitors and CPR devices that will offset part of the planned capital purchase for emergency medical equipment.
Next steps
Staff will continue tower punch-list work, complete dispatch center installations in Lancaster and a partner county, finish radio programming and complete foliage-based coverage testing in April before final cutover planning in May.
