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Communications seeks radio technician, extra dispatcher and a 'quiet room' as costs rise
Summary
Communications Director Don Gruver presented 2026 requests for a radio technician position, an additional dispatcher, and construction of a quiet room; he said vendor and tower rent costs are increasing and described plans to create an equipment reserve for radio replacements and to buy surplus radios at lower cost.
Don Gruver, Harvey County Communications Director, told the commission that Harvey County’s PSAP is one of the busiest in Kansas and presented budget requests for 2026 that include a quiet room in the dispatch center, an additional dispatcher position, and a radio technician. Gruver said vendor maintenance and console-support costs rose after a Motorola lease ended and noted the 911 fee distribution to counties increased recently — but the 911 Combined Fund balance is sensitive to large capital projects.
Gruver described a shift away from staggered five-year leases for mobile radios and toward an equipment-reserve approach for lifecycle replacement, and said he identified a vendor with a surplus of new radios that can be purchased at lower cost; he estimated needing about 60–65 radios to meet current requirements. Assistant Administrator/Finance Director Shannon Kingsley clarified a 911 budget transfer entry error and noted a proposed move of tower rental costs between funds; Gruver said Burrton and North Newton tower rent contracts include scheduled increases.
