Commissioners this week approved a nearly $1.4 million upgrade to the county’s emergency radio system.
The updated lease agreement with Motorola was approved at the Monday, Sept. 16 commission administrative session, with the total cost listed at $1,374,855.
Captain Tony Avery of the Sheriff’s Office spoke on the upgrade to current technology, stating it will serve two purposes. He said the upgrade will be done in anticipation of a Motorola software and hardware update within the next two years. Additionally, current radios are nearing the end of their useful lifespan.
Currently, the 911 system is able to support traditional phone calls and text messages — which Avery said is useful for those afraid to speak during a dangerous situation. The upgrades will pave the way for next-generation 911 service, he said, allowing for not just texting but also for two-way video 911 calls, giving dispatchers a first-hand view of the situation.
“We are committed to supporting law enforcement and emergency services and this does that,” said second district commissioner John Elliott. “While we could have pushed this down the road further as the radio narrow-band mandate was — you know that originally occurred under President Clinton and it didn’t get resolved until the last hour of the last moment and it came about through a five cent levy increase.”
The upgrade will be financed through a continuation of the 2012 lease agreement made with Motorola. The original lease is slated for payoff in 2021 with the new agreement slated to be paid off in installments, with the bulk of payments made after the 2021 payoff.
Commissioners renewed the county’s tax levies at the same rate as last year’s levies. The general fund levy — which was increased to pay for the updated radio system — was set at six cents per $100 assessed valuation; in Drainage District No. 1, the levy remains at about seven cents; for the Road and Bridge District, the levy remains at a little more than 32 cents.
Also at the meeting, the commissioners approved service agreements for police services and animal control with the City of Camden Point. With the retirement of its police chief, the city no longer has a police force and — like Dearborn to the north and Houston Lake to the south — now relies on the Platte County Sheriff’s Office for policing.