Court reviews countywide radio upgrade; cost estimates vary as staff scope grant needs

County staff briefed the court on plans to upgrade county radio communications and coordinate equipment across fire departments, EMS, road crews and other taxing districts.

Staff said they catalogued existing radios and identified which entities would receive new units versus which could be upgraded or reprogrammed. The police department appears likely to remain on a separate system or transition later, staff said.

Cost estimates changed as staff scoped the project. One staff member described a $500,000 topline estimate if every unit were replaced, but said targeted reuse and reprogramming brought the estimate closer to "200,000 roughly somewhere in that ballpark." Another participant offered a higher estimate of about $270,000, reflecting uncertainty in final scope.

Staff said they had applied for a federal grant to offset costs and that the grant language and award will shape which departments are covered. The court discussed strategies to save costs, including reallocating recently replaced sheriff radios to road crews and buying only the capabilities required for each user's role.

Court members also referenced the recent failure of a communications tower on Mount Hill, which disrupted service and increased urgency for a reliable replacement and coordinated system; staff said they hope to finish initial tower work by January if weather allows.