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Topton Fire Company outlines $350,000 radio replacement need; county loan option for municipalities discussed
Summary
Topton Fire Company leaders told Longswamp supervisors the P25 radio system is obsolete and that replacing most radios could cost about $350,000; the county is offering a time-limited discount and seven-year loans to municipalities only, and the company said it will contribute funds and may request municipal loan participation.
Officials from the Topton Fire Company briefed the Longswamp Township Board on plans to replace radios that are no longer supported by vendors and for which parts are discontinued.
Assistant Chief Daryl George said the public-safety P25 radio system has been in place since 2013 and that many radios are no longer serviceable; the fire company has roughly 53 radios and expects to replace about 90% of those in service. The county negotiated a sizable discount for Emergency Management, police, fire, EMS and public works; to receive the discount, orders must be placed by January 2027. The fire company estimated the necessary replacement radios would cost roughly $350,000 (accessories not included).
County financing being offered to municipalities would be a seven-year loan with an estimated 4.58% interest rate and payments deferred for one year after delivery; the county will not extend the loan program to private organizations, the presenters said. Chief Jason Robinson said the fire company expects to contribute some funds and does not anticipate municipalities paying the full cost; past intermunicipal purchases have used proportional cost-sharing (presenters mentioned an example split of roughly 70/20/10 among Longswamp, Maxatawny and Topton for a prior aerial purchase).
Daryl George asked whether Longswamp would need to replace any township radios and said he would follow up with paperwork if municipal participation were required. No motion or formal request for municipal funding was made at the meeting; presenters said more information would follow before any formal request.
Next steps: the fire company will provide additional details and any formal paperwork needed for municipalities to consider participation in the county loan or other funding arrangements.
