Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office to join Ohio MARCS

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jpryor

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Article regarding Columbiana County Sheriff's Office and their plans to join Ohio MARCS:

http://www.reviewonline.com/page/content.detail/id/503358.html?nav=5008

Sheriff's Office to receive a radio upgrade
By MARY ANN GREIER
POSTED: July 3, 2008
The Review - East Liverpool,OH,USA

LISBON - The Columbiana County Commissioners approved a $193,154 lease deal to purchase a new radio system for the Sheriff's Office which could save costs and increase safety for deputies who rely on the radio as their lifeline in the field.

"Our radio system has been in dire need of replacement for some time," Sheriff David Smith said Wednesday, adding it was last upgraded in 1973.

He said the system needed immediate attention. Dispatchers have been losing contact with deputies in the field due to dead spots and one of the towers used as a repeater site in the western part of the county where he has an antenna is being dismantled by the owner.

The commissioners approved a lease/purchase agreement with Dollar Leasing of Cleveland to purchase the equipment for the Multi-Agency Radio Communication System known as MARCS. As part of the five-year deal, the county will make an annual payment of $44,771 beginning July 2009 and then purchase the equipment at the end of the contract for $1.

Plans call for the commissioners to cover the cost through the general fund, but a grant application has been submitted to the Ohio Department of Public Safety for the full price of the system. A $48,298 match would be required to be paid by the county. Commissioner Penny Traina said the county development department was exploring other grant possibilities as a backup. Since the first payment isn't due until next year, they have some time to line up grant funding.

The list of Motorola equipment to be purchased included 26 portable units, 26 mobile units for the Sheriff's Office fleet, and two work stations for the dispatch center.

Smith termed the lease/purchase as the largest technological advancement for the Sheriff's Office in 30 years. The system used now employs a low-band frequency, but the new system uses an 800 megahertz digital radio and data network. Besides the improved radio reception, they'll reduce costs for electrical bills for the equipment at the seven tower sites used by the county and for upgrades and repairs since MARCS provides its own towers across the state. Smith had no estimate for the cost savings.

He said this will upgrade the mobile communications unit also since its already equipment with MARCS equipment. The office will now be able to use that equipment.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol switched to MARCS several years ago.
 

mtindor

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Article from the Morning Journal -

Sheriff will invest $13,333 to gain $40,000 in equipment
By TOM GIAMBRONI Staff Writer
POSTED: March 9, 2009

LISBON - Columbiana County Sheriff Ray Stone will use some of his funding to obtain a $40,000 state grant to purchase equipment that will help his deputies communicate when on a call.

Stone said he will use $13,333 as qualifying matching funds to obtain the $40,000 grant for small radio booster units that will increase the strength of walkie-talkies used by the deputies. The units will go into the trunk of each cruiser.

Read More --> Sheriff will invest $13,333 to gain $40,000 in equipment - Morning Journal News

Mike
 

mtindor

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i see that - old news is better than no news in my book though. I didn't know it.

That begs the question - If you knew it, why didn't you post it? :)

Mike
 
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