Fiscal Court orders return of radios after installation problems; one magistrate dissents

Taylorsville, Ky. — A technical briefing about newly installed county radios ended with Spencer County Fiscal Court voting to return the equipment to the vendor and request a refund.

Gary Day, who had been working on installing radios in ambulances and police vehicles, told the court that some of the radios installed in county vehicles were experiencing problems and that an older Taylorsville repeater and some legacy equipment would not support modern features such as encryption and newer ID systems. "If everyone goes on the Taylorsville Repeater the reception is going to be cut in more than half," Day said during his remarks, also noting that newer repeaters are taller and employ newer technology.

After discussion about compatibility and the options for mutual aid and P25/NexEdge interoperability, Magistrate Jim Travis moved and Magistrate Brett Beaverson seconded a motion to return all radios and equipment to Sunny Communications and request a refund. The motion was recorded as passing with Magistrate Tim Brewer voting "nay" and Magistrate M. Moody absent.

Why it matters: the county’s radio and repeater choices affect interagency communications and, according to testimony at the meeting, could alter whether transmissions are encrypted or accessible to public scanners. County staff and elected officials discussed the tradeoffs between equipment age, compatibility with neighboring jurisdictions and encrypted communications for law enforcement.

The motion directs county staff to effect the return and pursue a refund from the vendor; the minutes record the vote and the court’s instruction to return the equipment.