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Commission OKs interlocal agreement with sheriff’s office to staff county radio system
Summary
The board authorized an interlocal agreement to fund a full radio-systems FTE, vehicle purchase and recurring parts budget for the sheriff’s radio shop to manage the county’s trunked radio system, citing improved resilience and interagency operational benefits.
Alachua County commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office to fund a full-time radio-systems manager and related operating costs to manage the county-owned trunked radio system.
Chief Harold Theiss and Sheriff Ganey described the arrangement as leveraging the sheriff’s technical staff and existing radio shop to provide day-to-day systems management. The agreement includes funding for a full FTE, up to $50,000 for a vehicle, and up to $15,000 per year for replacement parts and minor equipment to maintain seven county radio sites. Chief Theiss said the sheriff’s radio staff “stepped up to the plate” during the transition and that the partnership had performed well in trial over the previous months.
Commissioners praised the collaboration as a practical, cost-effective approach to ensuring the system’s daily operations and resiliency. The board voted to authorize the chair to sign the interlocal agreement.
Next steps: sheriff’s radio shop will expand staffing as described and the county will retain budget and policy control for trunked radio system governance and future expansion.
