ESD board approves donation of 21 repeaters and communications gear, to lease surplus to emergency amateur groups

The San Jacinto County Emergency Services District board voted to accept a donation of radio and communications equipment from Sam Houston Electric Co-op, approving a resolution that allows the district to use necessary items and distribute surplus gear to noncommercial emergency-communications groups.

Board members said the donation includes repeaters, controllers, power supplies, routers and switches — an inventory described during the meeting as 21 repeaters and 16 controllers — and stressed the value of backup communications. "When all else fails, there's ham radio," one presenter said, noting amateur radio groups’ role in past disasters.

The resolution specifies that the district should first evaluate whether any items can be used directly to improve its internal communications. Equipment that the district cannot use may be placed on long-term lease to qualified nonprofits or amateur civil emergency service groups, with lease language retaining district ownership and preventing sale. The draft language also allows the district to declare surplus and dispose of items under Texas law if a two-year redeployment window is exhausted.

Commissioners discussed the need for ancillary hardware (duplexers, antennas and tuning cavities) to make repeaters operational and said some donated boxes will require additional investment to be useful. The board approved the resolution by voice vote after a motion and second; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

The board directed a commissioner to work with the attorney to negotiate lease terms and report back on the prospective recipients and lease language. Documents discussed referenced "applicable laws of the state of Texas" for disposal and surplus procedures.