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Emergency management updates towers, cameras and staffing; storm-spotter training set for March 11
Summary
Coffey County’s emergency management director updated commissioners on progress for new radio towers at Leroy, Lebo and Gridley, proposed cameras and alarms for tower sites, a new communications technician hire effective Feb. 2, and a public National Weather Service storm-spotter talk on March 11.
Coffey County’s emergency management director reported major progress on multiple county radio towers, described plans for cameras and security alarms at tower sites, and announced a new communications technician hire and public storm-spotter training.
Director Amber told the commission the Leroy tower is stacked and antennas are hung, with the shelter that houses electronics due to arrive on the 29th; she said Lebo tower shelter should arrive Feb. 23 and Gridley required horizontal drilling to run fiber. “It is stacked. Antennas are hung,” Amber said. She noted the only remaining Leroy item was utility power hookup.
Amber said the sheriff’s office and emergency management split the cost of an existing camera used for storm spotting and proposed installing similar cameras, door and HVAC alarms on each tower to allow dispatch to check a camera immediately if an alarm sounds. She estimated installed camera costs around $3,000–$4,000 apiece and said the items were budgeted under the radios account. “We budgeted for all that stuff... under the radios,” she told commissioners.
Amber also introduced her new RAD officer, deputy director Kayla Road, who started in December. She said she had hired a communications technician, Austin Whis, who is set to start Feb. 2 and for whom the commission authorized a payroll notice at the meeting.
On system upgrades, Amber said county equipment received a vendor upgrade to newer control hardware and Motorola aims to test the complete county system by March, which would allow Coffey County to operate simulcast independently of state towers if needed. She encouraged public attendance at a National Weather Service storm-spotter presentation scheduled for March 11 at 7 p.m. at the New Strong Community Center.
The commission unanimously approved the payroll notice for the new communications technician and heard no objections to tower-related budget items; staff said they will proceed with procurement of security cameras and final coordination with power and fiber providers.
The department will return with implementation details and procurement documents as vendors and schedules are finalized.
