Officials press for plan on county radio upgrades and warning systems as federal funding looms

Carroll County officials spent a substantial portion of the meeting discussing the county’s long‑delayed migration to a P25 radio platform and the addition of electronic warning‑sign systems.

Staff said Senator Mitch McConnell’s office is sponsoring a proposed federal appropriation of about $3.3 million to cover warning signs and radios; staff cautioned the county that federal appropriations and many grant programs typically do not reimburse expenditures made before awards are finalized. Officials discussed an alternative: applying for a resilient‑infrastructure grant that would require a time‑intensive benefit‑cost analysis and could fund a portion of the project.

County leaders emphasized that purchasing radios is only one element: engineering for towers, system architecture and multi‑agency coordination (EMS, fire, 911) are essential and can take up to two years. One department representative said the county had lost radio communications during emergency calls on multiple occasions over the past two years and urged prompt action.

To prepare, officials recommended issuing a request for proposals to define system architecture and to involve all user departments so the county would be “ready to roll” if appropriation funds arrive. The court noted existing borrowing included funds for the upgrade and asked staff to coordinate a follow‑up meeting with department users.

Why it matters: Radio and warning systems are critical to emergency response. Officials said delays have resulted in lost communications on calls, increasing the urgency of planning and procurement.

No formal appropriation was adopted at this meeting; the court discussed options, including spending now with potential future reimbursement (dependent on federal rules) or waiting for grant/appropriation outcomes and ensuring the county has a procurement plan in place.