Supervisor explains challenges with communications
Daily Dunklin Democrat: Local News: Supervisor explains challenges with communications system, up to $200,000 in needed repairs
Kennett Missouri Police Department Communication Supervisor, Captain Mark Goddard, along with Lance Davis, of the Kennett Fire Department, explained to the Kennett City Council on Tuesday problems with the City of Kennett communications service, along with the approximate costs of $150,000 to $200,000 to totally update and repair the system.
During the presentation, Goddard noted that the committee had been studying how the City of Kennett's system could communicate on a day-to-day basis.
He added that the city's radio system was installed in the current police department building in September of 2000.
"A short time after installation a 75-foot tower fell to the ground," Goddard said.
He added that this tower was replaced by a 110-foot tower, which is still in place today.
Following the recent January ice storm, the repeater system for the fire and police departments began experiencing interference, according to Goddard.
He noted that damage was found to the antenna system and hard-line coax.
The insurance carrier was notified and determined that they would replace the hard-line and antenna at the time, but not the repeaters due to age, according to Goddard.
"Our current radio system is approaching the 10th year after construction," Goddard said. "The repeaters we have are no longer on the market and parts are not readily available to get."
He added that the repeaters were also not P25 compliant, which is an issue approaching the year 2013.
On September 6, while fighting a serious structure fire on East Dunklin Street in Kennett, fire personnel were unable to make radio contact with firefighters involved in a hose line attack inside the structure, according to Goddard. He added that this caused a serious risk to the personnel.
Goddard explained to the council that on September 24, while en route to a serious traffic accident, involving a tractor trailer unit, South of Arbyrd, on a mutual aid request, dispatch lost contact with the responding units near the City of Senath.
Also on November 19, fire department personnel responded to a possible structure fire, the location with over 140 occupants in the building, after arriving, fire personnel once again lost or had problems communicating with the fire fighters on the scene, according to Goddard.
"This was a very dangerous situation with the possibility of needing to evacuate the inhabitants of the structure," Goddard said.
He added that he could continue with other incidents, but noted that he would move to redundancy issues.
"In case of a fire, tornado, or other natural disaster, our entire radio system could be compromised," Goddard said.
He noted that this would effect the contingency of government, along with the ability to respond to the disaster.
"Separating these repeaters throughout the city would give a higher chance of survivability," Goddard said.
The city's 911 system is one of the oldest in the area, according to Goddard. He added that most departments in the area had already updated their 911 system.
Goddard explained that the committee recommended the replacement and movement of the repeaters, currently located at the police department, to allow for redundancy and steady communications. He added that this would include new towers or adding to existing towers.
Goddard noted that the committee recommends obtaining new license and updating expired license.
He explained that the committee recommends replacing equipment in each department that is not P25 compatible, along with updating the 911 system and acquiring a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) program.
Alderman Jake Crafton followed Goddard's report asking how much the improvements would cost the city.
Goddard noted that the range that the committee has received on the total project is between $150,000 and $200,000. He added that grants were not available for the project.
Mayor Roger Wheeler Sr., noted that the main issue was a fire fighter inside a burning dwelling and not being able to communicate with the people outside.
"We cannot afford to have something like that, at all," Wheeler said.
Alderman Diane Risner asked what the first priority was in the project.
Goddard explained to Risner that separating repeaters was the main issue.
"If we have a disaster tomorrow, a fire destroys the police station, our communications are gone," Goddard said.
He added that currently all of the communications are on one tower.
Crafton asked the cost of this portion of the project and if it would help with the communication signals.
Goddard noted that it would provide a back-up to the current tower.
Davis explained to Crafton that to update Fire Station Number 1 with a repeater and two frequencies, along with other material, it would cost approximately $63,960.
He added that the radios within the fire stations would have to be replaced, which would add approximately $1,900 to the cost. Wheeler noted that the council did not need to answer during the meeting, but in the future would have to face the issue.