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Commission orders RFQ for county radio audit after police chief details widespread dead spots
Summary
After Chief Bill Sather described multiple radio dead spots and equipment problems, the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission voted 4-0 to issue an RFQ for an audit of the county communications system and discussed updating emergency planning to improve interagency coordination.
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County commissioners voted unanimously March 3 to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) to audit the county’s radio and communications system after Chief of Police Bill Sather described repeated failures during multi-agency responses.
Chief Sather told the commission that outside agencies that assisted during a recent manhunt reported that county radio performance lagged behind partner agencies. He said Redtail’s initial checks identified multiple problems in dispatch and field radios, and listed recurring dead spots across the county, including East Town Pump, Mill Creek, Big Hole, the Police Department and Sheep Gulch. "We live here, and we don't have any good communications," Sather said, and described finding that "there's ten mutual aid channels and you guys only have two working." He also said the county has paid Dunne Communications $328,892 over the last four years while the problems persist.
Commissioners Steve Gates, Paul Smith and Chair Kevin Hart supported moving forward with an outside review. Smith moved to approve the RFQ and Commissioner Ed Beaudette seconded; the motion carried 4-0. Commissioners and the CEO noted upgrades will be expensive and suggested budgeting ahead to avoid large one-time hits.
Commissioner Beaudette later asked for an update to the county's disaster and emergency plan—last updated in 2016—and recommended reconvening the emergency committee so agencies affected by any communications changes can coordinate. The county’s next steps are to publish the RFQ and review responses before deciding on a consultant or vendor.
