County discusses purchase of communications system
Staff writer
Marion County is likely to undertake a complete overhaul of its emergency communications system. County commissioners met Monday with Mark Grabar, a consultant from TBS Electronics Inc., Topeka, to map out a possible strategy.
Grabar will be at the next commission meeting, at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday at the Marion County Courthouse. Commissioners are expected to make a final decision about implementation of a new system then.
The system, as outlined by Grabar, could cost nearly $1.4 million, although this may be on the "high side," Grabar said.
Countywide, there are at least two systems in use now, and the two do not and cannot communicate with each other.
The county hopes to receive a grant or grants for purchase of some or all of the equipment needed for the upgrade. Commission chairman Howard Collett said he hoped a 30 percent county matching share would be all the county would be obligated for.
Michele Abbott-Becker, director of emergency communications for the county, said she would apply for grants with a 25 percent local matching share.
Collett said a 30 percent share would encumber about one mill per year for four years, to pay off.
The upgrade would make all law enforcement, emergency medical, and firefighting agencies in the county compatible in communications, with one system.
Grabar said "it's a better system, with a precise way to locate all vehicles
The system would have encryption for police agencies, via scrambling, "so that the bad guys won't know" the cops are on their way.
With screen-to-screen communication, patients' and others' privacy will be protected, Grabar said.
Collett said everyone in the county will benefit from such a system. Commissioner Leroy Wetta, however, spoke about "needs vs. wants." He advocated "doing" the needs, not necessarily the wants people have.
Wetta asked whether the prices for various items on the list compiled by Grabar might not be "inflated."
Grabar said the prices might vary, might go up or down a bit.
Commissioners will decide whether to have the upgrade done in its entirety at one time, or to bring it on gradually.
The "backbone" of the system outlined by Grabar costs $753,000, or well over half of the total amount.
The backbone includes four repeater/tower sites, installed, for a total of $340,000; three CRT console systems, installed, for $225,000; 35 control stations, installed, for $38,000; and one mobile data capability, for $150,000.
That totals $753,000. The remainder of the $1,395,625 is for field units — 275 portable radios and programming, 100 mobile radios with programming and installation, 240 pagers, 30 laptop computers, and 90 encryption capability units, as well as other items.
Sheriff Lee Becker said he liked the open-ended architecture of the proposed system. It will be capable of having items added to it as change comes, without obsolescence being a menace.
"We can look five, 10, 20, even 40 years down the road," the sheriff said.
JoAnn Knak, director of emergency medical service for the county, said she may soon have five new emergency medical technicians. But they won't have radios, she said, indicating her support for the proposed new system.
It was suggested that the county might get the backbone components, then try to get grants to help with purchase of the field units.
Collett said, "We're not likely to get one huge grant to apply to the whole amount" of $1.4 million or whatever that bottom line figure turns out to be.
Gene Winkler said, "in bidding, you may pay a lot less for radios" than Grabar's TBS estimate.
Reprogramming of old radios won't work for many, Grabar and others said, because of the new digital technology now in place.
The backbone, Grabar explained, is a trunking technology whereby all departments/agencies in the county can use all five channels at the same time, if they wish.
"Everyone can drink from the same cup," said Sheriff Becker, making an analogy related to the three commissioners' drinking coffee from three separate cups.
The system uses UHF frequencies.
Commissioners will look at the proposal for a week, and plan to make a decision at Tuesday's meeting.
