New Lexington Public Safety Radio System Planned

[SlGlNT]

During today's Urban County Council Work Session there was a discussion about the upgrades planned for the current 800MHz system and the VHF system. The cost is estimated at $16,433,000. The plan is to have phase 1 of 3 completed before the World Equestrian Games next year. The work session agenda says that the upgrade is necessary to become interoperable before August 2010 to improve existing radio coverage throughout the county, replace an antiquated network, and for the infrastructure and end-user hardware to meet federal narrow banding requirements set for January 2013. The funds will also allow for Harris Corporation contract to upgrade the 800 MHz system, the VHF system, and expand current fiber network connectivity between all communication
components. It was also mentioned that the purchases planned are similar to the contract that Madison County has with the exception of the number of towers. Lexington is planning on the construction of only three new towers.

I missed the first part of the meeting so I'm not sure what equipment they are planning on buying. There was a comment that the PD would continue with Motorola. Not much was accomplished at today's work session, but it will be on the agenda for the council meeting on Thursday 10/01/09. Anyone have any information on this?

[unitcharlie]

Keep us posted on what you find out.... I'll ask around as well.

[SlGlNT]

Looks like this will be a P25 system with multi-band radios. These radios were tested at the 2009 Derby. A central dispatch (Public Safety Operations Center) is also desired and planned to be located on Citation Blvd. with a 150' tower. This will combine Fire/EMS and Police dispatchers into one building. UK Police may also have dispatchers located in this facility. Estimated cost for this facility is $38,000,000. NG911 (Next Generation) is also in the works.

Police will have talk groups on the 800 system, but they want to keep the VHF operational due to coverage benefits of VHF. Encryption was also briefly mentioned to prevent scanners from monitoring.

[milf]

OUCH! So they don't like us much! LOL

[ShawnCowden]

days of the scanner are almost over and whats sad is the public safety will only let news media know what they want them to know

[alphabravo1]

Originally Posted by ShawnCowden

days of the scanner are almost over and whats sad is the public safety will only let news media know what they want them to know

True they always did, but most newspapers always had a police beat reporter that went to the station and looked at reports and asked questions. Those days are long gone.

There still are a few nosy cameramen around though in the Lexington area

[unitcharlie]

Thanx alphabravo....

[officerfrasher]

Any further update on this?

[SlGlNT]

Originally Posted by officerfrasher

Any further update on this?

There is a public meeting for the Public Safety Radio Presentation to Council on 11/5/2009 at 5:30 PM in the 5th floor conference room at the Government Center.