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Commission authorizes RFQ to audit county radio system after chief cites persistent dead spots
Summary
After testimony from Chief Bill Sada describing persistent radio dead spots during a multi‑agency response and nearly $329,000 paid to the incumbent provider over four years without resolution, the Anaconda‑Deer Lodge County Commission unanimously authorized a request for qualifications to audit the county communications system.
The Anaconda‑Deer Lodge County Commission unanimously authorized a request for qualifications to audit the county's communications system after Chief of Police Bill Sada described ongoing radio dead spots and interoperability failures that affected a recent multi‑agency manhunt.
Chief Sada told the commission that outside technicians found coverage gaps across the county, citing dead spots at specific neighborhoods and facilities and noting that multiple mutual‑aid channels were not available on handheld units. He said the county paid the incumbent provider roughly $328,892 over the last four years but that the problems remained unresolved. "We had 44 different agencies come in. Everything worked great, but our communications — 43 of the other agencies had good communications except us in our own county," Sada said.
The testimony included site‑specific observations: outdated dispatch screen configurations, handheld radios with only two of 10 mutual‑aid channels functioning, and at least one tower sited low on a hillside where technicians said it would not serve the intended area. Sada said outside technicians suggested adding additional sites at an estimated cost of roughly $250,000 each, potentially reaching $500,000 per site depending on location and infrastructure needs.
Commissioners pressed on urgency and budget implications. One commissioner urged semiannual communication checks and recommended budgeting for staged upgrades to avoid a single large hit. "If we have a major disaster, we're SOL," a commissioner said, encapsulating safety concerns that commissioners said necessitated immediate action.
The commission's vote authorized issuing an RFQ for a communications audit, directing staff to solicit independent analyses of coverage, equipment configuration, and options for remediation. CEO Everett acknowledged prior invoices had been pulled to provide to potential auditors and thanked presenters and staff for advancing the item. The vote was unanimous.
Next steps: staff will issue the RFQ and bring qualified responses and recommendations back to the commission for further direction and potential budget allocations.
