Radio system to be updated
Updated radio system equipment has been purchased to improve radio communication between fire departments, emergency medical services and law enforcement within Jackson County.
During a special meeting of the Jackson County Commissioners on March 1, the commissioners approved a purchase quote of $104,648.90 from KA-COMM., Inc. of Manhattan to fix and upgrade the current radio system, which is referred to as the FIRE COMM system.
The FIRE COMMM system is what Jackson County 911 dispatchers use to page all fire and EMS personnel to emergency calls. It is also the primary frequency used for radio communication during response to fire, vehicle accidents and medical calls.
The quote from KA-COMM includes a variety of “voter” and “link” equipment for different communication sites around the county, as well as an upgraded antenna system to the county’s main tower site.
The county’s current radio system consists of a centralized radio repeater and several “voting” sites throughout the county that help boost the radio signals back to the repeater.
Sherri Ladner, administrative assistant and 911 coordinator for the sheriff’s department, explained that a voter selects the best signal among the nearby access points to use to communicate. Each voter is connected by a “link,” which links them back to a repeater.
“We’re operating on three voter sites when we should be running six,” Ladner said. “They load is too much for them, and it’s too far for them to go. We need to put in a better-grade, industrial link system.”
The county is also unable to get parts for the current link system, it was reported.
With the new equipment, the county plans to move the FIRE COMM repeater from its current location on a water tower at 206th and K Roads to the new radio tower purchased by the sheriff’s office last year on Kansas Highway 79.
“This would allow us to raise the antenna approximately 100 feet, which would also improve communications for most areas of the county,” Ladner said.
The purchase will be made out of the county’s 911 fund, which only generates revenue through a tax placed on landline and cellular telephones. Prior to the purchase, there was an estimated $153,000 in fund.
To help offset the purchase, the county has submitted an application to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation charitable contributions fund, it was reported.
The request is for 15 percent of the cost of upgrading the communications system. It was noted that the upgraded system will improve communications for the Tribal Fire Department when personnel are assisting or being assisted by other fire departments on and off of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation.
In other business, according to the approved minutes from March 1, the commission:
* Learned from John Kennedy, Banner Creek Reservoir manager, that Gary Keehn is interested in securing one of the reservoir’s older docks after it is replaced this spring. The older dock would be used for the school pond at Jackson Heights. The commissioners okayed the plan.
* Met with Deverne and Mary Pagel who voiced their concern with the condition of U.4 Road north of 118th Road.
* Met with Jackson County Appraiser Jason Claycamp to discuss the valuation trend for this year, which includes increases for cropland and grassland. The state sets these rates.
* Adjourned the meeting at 4 p.m. All three were present.
