Trustees discuss buying four surplus radios and giving road crews radio access

Trustees discussed a staff proposal to buy four surplus radios from the Butler County Sheriff's Office so the township has reliable, serviceable radios in place of aging equipment.

The fiscal officer said the township has upgraded and patched some radios and is "pretty much in compliance," but that older radios may no longer be serviced by Motorola and parts/service options are shrinking. She said the township has been borrowing four radios from Butler County and that Chief Gart asked whether the township could find funds to purchase the radios now rather than wait until 2025. "He'd rather have them because some of our radios aren't lasting shifts," the fiscal officer said.

Staff identified available carryover funds that have been encumbered and appropriated and said purchasing the four surplus radios (quoted at about $3,600 each) is feasible; the fiscal officer said she needs at least two signatures to proceed with the purchase. Trustees discussed keeping older radios as spares for fire and police and finding a vendor who can maintain them.

Trustees and staff also discussed whether road department crews should have limited radio access during major storms to coordinate plowing and emergency access. Chiefs said road crews are often first on scene clearing roads; trustees agreed to consult the public works superintendent about maintenance responsibility and channel configuration before extending access.

No formal motion to immediately expend funds for the purchase was recorded beyond staff seeking authorization to proceed; staff will return with purchase paperwork and signatures if the trustees authorize buying the four radios.

The board also heard brief updates on vehicles and facilities during the fiscal officer's report, and trustees discussed facility flooring options and next-year budget priorities later in the meeting.