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Five Stark County law enforcement agencies have received $500,000 that will help them buy new dispatch consoles for the county's new radio system, the sheriff's office said.
By Robert Wang
CantonRep.com staff writer
The Stark County Sheriff's office said it and four local police departments have received a state grant they plan to use to help pay for part of the county's upgrade to its radio system.
The police departments of Canton, Massillon, Perry Township and Jackson Township along with the sheriff's office will receive a total of $500,000 from the Local Government Safety Capital Grant, a statement by the sheriff's office said Wednesday. The Ohio Development Services Agency and the Local Government Initiative Council awarded the grant.
The statement said the money will help the agencies pay for 22 dispatch consoles that are needed so they operate with the new P25 Multi Agency Radio Communication Systems. That's the state radio network that the county plans to spend more than $10 million to join. Motorola said it cannot service the county's current 1990's system as it's getting harder to find replacement parts, Sheriff George Maier has said. County officials are seeking voters' approval of an eight-year renewal of the 0.5 percent criminal justice sales tax that would fund repayments on money borrowed to pay for the radio system upgrades. If approved, it would extend the tax's expiration from 2020 to 2028. It would not result in increased taxes.
The statement said Stark County Sheriff George Maier plans to apply for the grant again in 2018 for the same purpose. He hopes to complete the upgrade sometime in 2018. 
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By Robert Wang
CantonRep.com staff writer
The Stark County Sheriff's office said it and four local police departments have received a state grant they plan to use to help pay for part of the county's upgrade to its radio system.
The police departments of Canton, Massillon, Perry Township and Jackson Township along with the sheriff's office will receive a total of $500,000 from the Local Government Safety Capital Grant, a statement by the sheriff's office said Wednesday. The Ohio Development Services Agency and the Local Government Initiative Council awarded the grant.
The statement said the money will help the agencies pay for 22 dispatch consoles that are needed so they operate with the new P25 Multi Agency Radio Communication Systems. That's the state radio network that the county plans to spend more than $10 million to join. Motorola said it cannot service the county's current 1990's system as it's getting harder to find replacement parts, Sheriff George Maier has said. County officials are seeking voters' approval of an eight-year renewal of the 0.5 percent criminal justice sales tax that would fund repayments on money borrowed to pay for the radio system upgrades. If approved, it would extend the tax's expiration from 2020 to 2028. It would not result in increased taxes.
The statement said Stark County Sheriff George Maier plans to apply for the grant again in 2018 for the same purpose. He hopes to complete the upgrade sometime in 2018. 
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