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Plumas County authorizes sheriff communications upgrades and a new communications supervisor
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Summary
The board approved purchases and budget transfers to fund sheriff equipment, a full‑time communications supervisor, a $~1.6 million radio interoperability upgrade (grant‑funded), and a sole‑source amendment with Sierra Electronics to consolidate maintenance and replacement.
The Plumas County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 20 approved a set of sheriff and communications items intended to modernize emergency response systems and expand staffing.
Sheriff Chad Herman and staff described two related packages: (1) authorization to purchase a deployable multi‑camera/communications system for tactical deployments and (2) a capital project to upgrade the county’s emergency communications and radio interoperability (described by staff as a Radius system upgrade). Staff said the communications upgrade project totals roughly $1.6 million and relies on multiple funding streams including a congressional allocation and Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and Title III funds; staff explained that Lassen County controls grant administration while Plumas County will receive approximately $865,000 to replace equipment at multiple radio sites to ensure interjurisdictional CAD and radio interoperability.
The board approved recruitment of 1 FTE communications supervisor funded in the FY25‑26 budget and authorized supplemental budget transfers to move grant and Title III funds into fixed asset accounts for communications equipment. Supervisors also approved a sole‑source amendment to extend a contract with Sierra Electronics (vendor for radio sites and vehicle radios) to consolidate replacement and maintenance work for the multi‑site project; staff said Sierra Electronics currently provides year‑to‑year service and the amendment would streamline the program‑level procurement.
Why this matters: the upgrades aim to ensure radios and CAD remain operable countywide and interoperable with neighboring jurisdictions during emergencies, and the purchases remove several aging components from the county’s system.
What happened next: the board approved the motions (voice vote, no recorded opposition) and staff indicated project procurement and installation would proceed over the next 12 months as funds are drawn down and components purchased.
