Matching grant provides for emergency radios

Early this summer, difficulties communicating during the county tornado drill scenario at the Fairgrounds proved that emergency radio updates were needed. This week, Sheriff Jason Schluttenhofer was able to announce that the county has secured a $200,000 matching grant from the state to go toward 66 radios for emergency vehicles in the county.

“It’s probably the most important tool we’ve got,” the Sheriff said of radio communication.

Last year, the county was able to replace radios for the communication center. The Sheriff said the next step will be to improve tower coverage for dead spots, either by putting up a new tower or working with U.S. Cellular to share a tower. “We’re probably a year out from that,” he said.

The $400,000 cost includes a 55 percent price reduction on the new radios, installation and programming for all the services that will use them. “It is a lot of money, but you’ve got to speak to people,” Supervisor Karl Helgevold said.

At the latest, the new radios will be in use by next July, though Schluttenhofer said he hoped to have everything installed by December.

 

For more county business, see the October 20 edition of the Monitor.

Wright County Monitor

P.O. Box 153
Clarion, IA 50525
Phone: 515-532-2871
Email: news@wrightcountymonitor.com

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