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Lunenburg supervisors earmark Meridian Waste donation for E‑911 upgrade, approve backup call center
Summary
The Board unanimously earmarked the 2020 $50,000 Meridian Waste donation for an E‑911 radio upgrade, approved moving forward on a consultant‑recommended UHF P25 radio system (estimated $3.5 million) and authorized up to $24,478.26 to set up a backup E‑911 call center at Victoria Fire & Rescue.
Lunenburg County supervisors on Oct. 8 unanimously agreed to earmark the county’s 2020 Meridian Waste community donation for upgrading the county’s E‑911 radio communications system and approved steps to establish a backup E‑911 call center.
Cheryl Giggetts of CTA Consultants told the Board the firm recommends a UHF P25 Phase 1 conventional radio system as the best fit for the county; multi‑vendor estimates put the system cost at about $3.5 million. Giggetts said available grant funds — including an $89,000 grant she and Victoria Fire & Rescue Chief Rodney Newton helped secure — would carry the county through conceptual design and preparation to contract signing, likely in summer or fall 2021.
Supervisor T. Wayne Hoover proposed earmarking Meridian Waste’s annual $50,000 community donation for the E‑911 upgrade; the Board approved the earmark by roll call vote with all seven supervisors voting yes.
Separately, Major DJ Penland of the Sheriff’s Office requested equipment to establish a backup E‑911 call center to be housed at Victoria Fire & Rescue in case the primary center must shut down. The Board authorized spending not to exceed $24,478.26 for the backup center.
County Administrator Tracy M. Gee and CTA representatives said financing options would be examined as the project moves past conceptual design. Giggetts emphasized that grant assistance is available but that the county will need to identify funding sources for full procurement and deployment.
Next steps include proceeding with CTA Consultants’ conceptual design for the radio system and moving forward with procurement planning; the Board’s approvals do not commit the county to a final contract or a specific financing package.
