Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Officials say more federal funding needed to finish county radio upgrade project
Loading...
Summary
Commissioners ratified congressionally directed spending requests and discussed that the county still needs roughly $2 million to outfit all departments with portable and mobile radios and base stations, emphasizing the need to balance system infrastructure with radio purchases so volunteers are not left bearing costs.
County officials ratified congressionally directed spending requests on the agenda and discussed the broader county radio and communications upgrade.
During discussion, a county official explained a congressionally directed spending request was for about $1,350,000 for portable radios and base stations, but that earlier assistance of roughly $2.1 million was targeted at satellite equipment. The official said the law-enforcement mobile-radio portion previously secured was about $900,000 and that the remaining work — outfitting portables, mobiles and base stations for all departments and volunteer companies — could require "maybe another $2,000,000" to finish the project. The official noted there are approximately 465 portable radios needed (portables only) and that department mobile counts and base-station needs vary by agency.
Commissioners discussed the operational mismatch risk: building a system without radios or buying radios before the system is fully in place. One commissioner said the county is trying "to walk a very fine line" by seeking funding for both infrastructure and devices as grant opportunities arise to avoid shifting the cost unduly to volunteer fire companies.
The board ratified the congressionally directed spending items on the agenda by motion; members recorded affirmative responses during the vote. Officials said the system is expected to be operational in about three months, with radios still to be distributed and additional funding required to complete outfitting of vehicles and personnel.
