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Commissioners discuss emergency radio 'dead spots,' weigh $44,000 in repeater fixes and tower repairs
Summary
Newton County commissioners spent substantial time on Oct. 21 reviewing emergency-communications gaps after reports of 'dead spots,' hearing estimates of about $44,000 for repeater work and roughly $48,000 to repair a tower, and discussing next steps including handheld radios for schools and an MOU with the sheriff's office.
Newton County commissioners devoted much of their Oct. 21 meeting to an update on countywide emergency communications after several elected officials and staff reported radio 'dead spots' that they said hamper responses.
A committee member who led the briefing said the sheriff's office and fire departments have worked to improve coverage but that gaps remain. "That $44,000 was on repeater, breather, maple iron boot, and SRA time," the committee member said, describing equipment and installation estimates and noting other related costs. He added, "I'll spend the $44,000 just because of the safety concerns I got with dead spots in my precinct." (Committee member)
Commissioners discussed how new repeater equipment could be deployed and the possible funding source: roughly $11,000 per precinct was cited as a planning figure if the county were to spread the cost. The committee member said the $44,000 estimate stemmed from work to hook up radios, test coverage and install repeaters where needed; he contrasted that cost with the operational impact of long detours, delayed emergency response and extra vehicle wear.
The briefing also included a separate estimate of about $48,000 to repair a county radio tower in the Blakewood area. One commissioner suggested a less costly interim option: painting and minor repairs to extend the tower's life "probably another 10 years," while other speakers recommended bringing in tower specialists to assess structural integrity before committing to replacement.
Officials described concrete operational risks that prompted urgency. The committee member recounted an incident in which an 18-wheeler became stuck on railroad tracks and multiple trains delayed clearance; better radio coverage, he said, would have allowed faster coordination among responding agencies. Commissioners also said handheld radios had been distributed during a recent school safety meeting so deputies and school staff could communicate directly during an incident.
The court discussed administrative steps if it chose to fund improvements: confirming whether funds would come from commissioners' budgets, obtaining firm vendor timelines for repeaters and towers, and securing an MOU so agencies can share frequencies and equipment. No formal appropriation or vote to spend funds for the repeater or tower repairs was recorded at the Oct. 21 meeting; commissioners expressed willingness to pursue estimates and bring formal proposals back in a future meeting.
Why it matters: Commissioners said improved radio coverage affects daily incident response across precincts, school safety coordination and the county's ability to route emergency resources during storms and other events. The court asked staff to continue work with the sheriff's office, vendors and landowners to firm up costs and timelines.
The meeting proceeded to routine business after the communications update; items later on the agenda included budget amendments and payment appeals.
