Rome, GA - EMA director makes case for new communication system at Rotary luncheon

[Thunderbolt]

ROME, Ga. -- Rome Rotary’s weekly luncheon Thursday gave members insight on projects that would be funded by a special purpose, local option sales tax up for vote in November.

RN-T.com - EMA director makes case for new communication system at Rotary luncheon

[Metrofire31]

Weakest arguments I've ever heard. It sounds more like "keeping up with the Jones" making the case why the present system is inadequate. For example, the Rome Fire Department's DISPATCH channel is on a repeatered VHF frequency that can be monitored and talked-on from Atlanta, over 70 miles OUTSIDE Floyd County. What's wrong with that? If having only one tower causes concern for redundancy, correct that. But it doesn't cost $26 million to correct redundancy. This is another example of starting with the answer, and working backward to defend it. If I were a taxpayer of Rome-Floyd County, I would be a very outspoken and vocal opponent of this. THIS IS EXACTLY WHY OUR GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS IS IN THE RED!!! If this was a business decision, there would be a business case and you would have to justify it based on cost benefit analysis.

Spending $26.7 million in this case is unbelievable!!!

[b7spectra]

>At an estimated $26.7 million, the cost for the new system is high, Hancock said, and it would cost an estimated $400,000 a year to maintain. But he feels it is worth it for the county’s long term development.<

I wonder how much for a NON-Motorola system?

>“Having that elevator will be great for those of us who have to lug equipment up to the press box,” he said. <

My heart bleeds for them. A little hard work NEVER hurt anyone!

>“Floyd County is still carrying an aging bag phone while everyone else is updating to new technology and have a Blackberry,” he said about the communication system.<

Gotta keep up with the Jones's, huh?

[MTS2000des]

typical Motorola sponsored overpriced sales push, and of course the E-comm director has no other reliable independent source so he is convinced they must raise a SPLOST to pay for a system they don't need. Have they investigated alternatives such as improving/building out their conventional system? Put out a true RFP and opened this up to competitive bidding? Of course not, because it's a sucker deal being fleeced upon taxpayers in a community already low on funds.

as I said before, where will public safety radio be in 10 years? Exactly where it is now. Overpriced and underperforming....so long as this nonsense keeps continuing.