County 911 officials urge $14.5 million radio replacement and $800,000 consultant to avoid service gaps

Allora Forsy, director of Sedgwick County emergency communications, told the Board of County Commissioners that the county’s aging radio infrastructure will be unsupported beginning in 2028 and recommended replacing the system to avoid critical outages.

“The system is no longer going to be supported,” Forsy said, adding that the department has budgeted an estimated $14.5 million for a replacement and is proposing bond funding to cover the purchase and capital cost. She said the funding estimate is based on the option the department believes best meets operational needs.

Forsy also proposed a separate consultant contract, estimated at $800,000, to guide the county through vendor evaluation, contract negotiation and implementation oversight. She explained that a consultant team provides technical expertise, site visits and project management capacity that complements both county staff and vendor resources. “I feel much more comfortable having somebody with only Sedgwick County’s interest at hand,” Forsy said, describing the consultant’s role in coordinating complex cutover activity and minimizing dropped coverage during transition.

Why it matters: the radio system supports roughly 10,000 subscriber devices across about 10 radio sites and underpins public safety communications for police, fire and ambulance providers. Forsy said the vendor‑support sunset, combined with aging hardware, creates a non‑optional capital need rather than an elective purchase. Commissioners and budget staff discussed bonding the capital cost and using 911 tax revenues to service debt while preserving the general fund for personnel costs.

Budget and timeline: Forsy said the $14.5 million figure is an early estimate tied to the preferred technical option; the county plans to pursue bond financing. The consultant estimate of $800,000 was framed as a one‑time allocation expected to be spent across multiple fiscal years as the project proceeds; the county would allocate the funds in 2027 and carry unspent amounts forward if necessary.

Implementation risk: presenters and commissioners emphasized the complexity of replacing a live, county‑wide radio infrastructure—site capacity, tower rack space, cutover sequencing and interoperability with many user agencies. Forsy noted the long history of on‑site troubleshooting during prior rollouts and said an independent consultant would reduce the implementation risk by acting as the county’s technical advocate.

Next steps: commissioners were asked to include the radio capital and consultant items in the FY2027 decision package review so staff can begin RFP planning and bond authorization steps if the commission approves the funding strategy. The presentation closed with staff committing to provide additional options, costs and timeline details before any final funding commitment.