Committee approves purchase of new tone alerting system for fire department; chief says change will reduce jolting alarms and speed dispatch

The committee approved an agreement to purchase a Honeywell US Digital Designs tone alerting system from Gencom through the Sourcewell cooperative contract as part of an earlier-approved capital improvement plan. Chief Danton of the County Fire Department described the upgrade as replacing an older pager-and-PA approach with a computer-driven system that allows a ramp-up tone and faster dispatch: “The new system allows us to do ramp up tone... instead of a loud jolting tone... it starts gradually... and additionally, the new tone alert system, it's a faster dispatch time because... it gets toned through a computer system and then they follow-up with the add on information. So it will help with response times as well.”

Committee members asked for clarification about how the new tone differed from the current system; Chief Danton answered that the current arrangement uses old pagers and an in-station amplifier that broadcasts a jolting tone. After brief Q&A, the committee moved to vote and approved the purchase 4–0. Staff said the purchase is proceeding under the city's previously approved 2026 CIP and Sourcewell contracting process.