I read some minutes of some sort of city meeting when they were putting in the current system back in 2003 I think... (to the tune of $700K). In those minutes it said they didn't want to use Motorola as they were pushing there 800 MHz trunked systems and the guys in charge in Emporia did not want a 800 MHz trunked system.
After spending that much money just in the last 6 years on radio equipment, I can't imagine they would be able to spend a ton to now convert to P25, even with fed funds.
Found it:
http://www.emporia.ws/minutes.nsf/32...c?OpenDocument
POLICE DEPARTMENT
(Emergency Radio System Replacement)
Police Chief Mike Heffron was recognized and addressed the Governing Body. Chief Heffron stated he was appearing before the Commission to discuss emergency radio system replacement. He stated the current walkie-talkie and mobile units used by the Police Department were purchased in the 1980's and parts for them are no longer available. He stated his department purchased radios from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department, that they were no longer using, in order to cannibalize them for parts. He stated parts are not available for the City’s Dispatch Center. He stated much of the radio equipment is nearing the end of its useful life. Dead spots that the radios can’t reach have been found in the county and equipment failures have occurred. He stated in addition, the radios police and firefighters use are falling behind new national standards adopted after the September 11 attacks. He stated Motorola has been one of the traditional sources for municipal radio systems and they were invited to submit a proposal by January 1, 2003. He stated the proposal was incomplete.
Sgt. Rick Frevert, Supervisor of the Dispatch Center, stated that might be due to the fact that the City is still interested in using UHS equipment while Motorola is committing itself more to 800 mhz radio systems.
Chief Heffron stated he did receive an offer by Ka-Comm that could go up in three phases. The first phase being new walkie-talkies and mobile radios which could be available in three or four weeks of an agreement being reached. Phase Two would be for a new console and 911 system. Phase Three would include a new 300' tower, repeaters and booster system. He stated as currently priced this system would run $751,616.00 for all three phases.
City Manager Commons stated the City has sold $600,000.00 in bonds for replacing the radio system and also has $115,000.00 in 911 funds that can be spent on the system. He stated if everything goes ahead the City intends to set up the tower at the Water Treatment Plant for better security.
Chief Heffron stated the Dispatch Center would be relocated to another location within the Police Department and that the system would be compatible with that used by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department.
Following further discussion, it was the consensus of the Commission to direct staff to contact Ka-Comm and see if the price offered could be reduced by a package deal. Staff is to bring this item back to the Commission for their consideration at their next Regular meeting. No further action was taken on this item.
Any inside info on KSICS in Lyon or Morris Counties?
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