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Daniels County discusses radio, tower and fire truck payment changes for emergency services
Summary
County officials reviewed communications upgrades with Redtail Communications, noted an apparent cancellation of an FAA tower request, addressed ambulance radio frequency issues and heard a request to change fire truck loan terms to annual payments starting December 2026.
Daniels County commissioners heard updates on public-safety communications and emergency equipment during the Nov. 3 and Nov. 17 sessions.
Shawna Lowe, the county TAC officer, and representatives from Redtail Communications and the State of Montana were scheduled to inspect and adjust the county’s base radio and ambulance radios. Lowe reported that she did not know who canceled an FAA request for permission to install a tower and said she would follow up with Redtail. Ambulance representative Lee Hinkley later reported that Redtail would send new antennas and that radio problems were due to a tower radio set to the wrong frequency.
Neil Holum, the rural fire chief, asked the board to change the loan payment schedule for a fire truck from monthly payments to annual payments, with the first payment due in December 2026. The board did not record further action on that request in the minutes beyond the chief’s request. The clerk presented budget resolution BV-2 to recognize loan proceeds from Motorola Solutions in the fiscal year and the board approved the resolution.
Why it matters: Communications infrastructure and financing terms for fire apparatus affect emergency response reliability. The visit by Redtail technicians and the approval of the budget resolution to account for Motorola equipment indicate the county is advancing both technical fixes and budgetary recognition for radio and console equipment.
What’s next: Redtail and State representatives were scheduled to visit to complete checks; Lowe planned to follow up on the FAA tower request. The minutes do not record a formal approval to change the fire truck loan payment schedule.
