Sheriff urges radio repeater upgrades; commissioners back using 911 funds and to evaluate second padded cell

Granite County Sheriff Rico Barkell told commissioners on May 5 that the county's radio repeater system, about 27 years old, is beginning to fail and that a nonfunctional west repeater is creating communication gaps west of Drummond and in Lower Rock Creek where cellular service is unreliable.

Barkell said emergency responders rely on the repeater system and that failures create officer-safety and liability risks. He described "simulcast" technology that would allow unified communications across the county. The board discussed using 911 funds and pursuing grants to fund upgrades; the estimated project cost was approximately $67,000. Commissioner Adler moved to proceed with repeater upgrades using 911 funds while continuing to pursue grant reimbursement opportunities; Commissioner McLure seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The discussion then turned to the county jail. Barkell said the existing padded cell, installed around two years earlier, has been used for inmates experiencing mental-health crises or intoxication and that delays in placement at the Montana State Hospital have sometimes required extended stays. The board reviewed a construction estimate of about $78,447 to build a matching second padded cell. Commissioners agreed to evaluate and conditionally accept the padded-cell proposal pending funding feasibility and prioritization in the budgeting process.