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Park County commission approves application for state grant to upgrade sheriff radios
Summary
Park County commissioners approved submitting a state METAP grant application (up to $50,000) to integrate software into existing deputy-vehicle radios so they can communicate on other jurisdictions’ radio channels, staff said; the application will be due in early February.
Park County commissioners on Jan. 13 approved applying for state METAP emergency-response equipment funding to upgrade deputy-vehicle radios and buy software that would let county radios communicate on other jurisdictions’ channels.
Kristen, a county grants staffer, told commissioners the county previously received funding for a deputy vehicle and that the METAP award maximum is $50,000. She asked the board for approval to submit the application, which is due in early February.
An agency official from the sheriff’s office said the department’s current radios are about five years old and working well but lack software licensing to allow interoperable talk paths beyond the state trunk or general channels. The official described the cost to integrate the software as roughly $50,000 and said the upgrade would enable communications with neighboring counties and statewide mutual-aid channels during large events.
A commissioner moved and the commission voted by voice to approve submitting the application. The motion did not record individual vote tallies; the chair called for an oral “aye.”
If awarded, staff said the funding would be used to purchase the software license and integrate it into existing radios rather than buying replacement radios. Staff did not provide a vendor estimate in the meeting; the grants coordinator said she had requested cost estimates and would follow up.
