Simpson County officials press vendors over delayed $3 million radio system and warranty timing

Simpson County Judge-Executive Mason Barnes and magistrates pressed vendors on Nov. 19 about ongoing delays and warranty timing for a $3 million radio communications system that county officials said is still not fully operational two years after purchase.

At a fiscal court meeting held at the Simpson County Historic Courthouse, Motorola representative Robby Smith and representatives from Mobile Communications of America told the court the statewide system has fallen behind schedule because of issues with microwave links, backhaul and other system errors. Smith said some test users are active on Post One and Post Two but the county’s radios will be staged for testing in fringe areas before Kentucky State Police (KSP) manages a broader rollout.

"The county spent three million dollars on a communication system that they are already two years into and it's still not up and running," Magistrate Marty Chandler said, expressing frustration over the timetable. Gary Vance with KSP said the agency is working to accelerate setup and that the region is next in line because it was an early committed add-on.

The court also raised questions about warranty timing for handheld radios. The court had been told the warranty begins when a radio is activated and runs for seven years; Smith replied that, as he understood it, the warranty "goes into effect the day they take possession." Judge Barnes asked whether Motorola could extend warranty coverage so that the seven-year period would begin when radios are placed on the statewide system; Smith said that request "wasn't an unreasonable ask" and that he would seek an answer from his team and report back to the court.

Why this matters: The county’s radio system supports public-safety communications across local agencies. Delays to system activation can affect interoperability and the timing of maintenance or replacement cycles tied to vendor warranties. Officials said radios will be tested in fringe areas first to evaluate service before KSP proceeds with wider deployment.

Court next steps: Vendors agreed to follow up on the warranty-extension request and provide updated timing for full system activation. The fiscal court did not adopt a policy change at the meeting but recorded the request for vendor follow-up.