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Rolla council approves purchase of backup cellular devices for emergency dispatch
Summary
The Rolla City Council approved buying three rugged cellular 'push-to-talk' phones to serve as a backup siren/dispatch link after a recommendation from Rolette County 911. The devices are intended to address indoor radio coverage gaps; the purchase was unanimous.
Mayor Kevin Juntunen convened the Rolla City Council on May 20, where members approved a purchase of three rugged cellular phones to be used as a backup siren and dispatch link.
Ryan Hiatt, Rolette County 911 Coordinator, told the council the current radio network can lose signal inside buildings and recommended a three-button rugged cellphone as a redundant, push‑to‑talk option for quick contact with dispatch and emergency services. "Ryan recommended a three-button rugged cellphone. The buttons are push to talk for easy and fast access to reach dispatch, emergency, and body camera," the transcript records.
On a motion by Councilmember Paul Frydenlund seconded by Damond Schemmel, the council authorized buying three phones through Verizon Wireless. The motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.
The phones are intended as a backup; council members said existing radio equipment in police units will remain in service. The council recorded this as part of routine new-business approvals and did not attach a funding source discussion to the motion.
The next step is procurement through Verizon as authorized; no implementation timeline was specified at the meeting.
