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Article source: TheRecord.com, 2013-11-12. Emphasis within article is not in the original article.
Replacing emergency radio system expected to cost $26 million
By Paige Desmond
WATERLOO REGION — The Region of Waterloo expects to spend at least $26 million to upgrade voice radio systems for local police, fire, transit and other services from analog to digital.
Council voted Tuesday to issue a request for proposals for replacement of the region's two-way voice radio system which is expected to be obsolete as early as 2018.
Politicians plan to spend about $21.8 million to buy the system and about $4 million to finance the debt purchase. Development charges may cover some costs.
"It is very expensive and unfortunately the analog system will be redundant and unable to be maintained in 2018," said Coun. Tom Galloway, who also chairs the Waterloo Region Police Services Board.
Staff say it could cost the region beyond the estimate because potential suppliers were unable to offer estimates without more detailed information on what the region requires.
The region is responsible for the voice radio systems used by local police, fire departments, ambulances, municipal operations, Grand River Transit, the Grand River Conservation Authority and the Red Cross.
Municipal and other partners are responsible for purchasing equipment such as hand-held devices.
The current system was installed in 1994.
Replacement of the archaic system was expected to be complete in 2018, but a steering committee representing those affected is recommending the date — and funding — be moved up to 2017.
Part of the concern is that equipment and parts to maintain an analog operation will become increasingly difficult to find as production slows in anticipation of the digital age. "You don't want to be in a situation where you're still installing the new system and the old system is not operating," Galloway said.
But he's concerned about moving the project timeline ahead. It means the region would have to issue about $2.2 million in debt in 2014 that it wasn't expecting until 2015.
Regional council already has to find a way to pay $5 million in additional debt costs in 2014 for other projects. That's equal to a regional tax increase of about one per cent.
"I'm going to have to seriously question the need for that," Galloway said of the new timeline. "We do have some issues with our borrowing and our debenture costs."
A new system will have its perks.
It's expected to offer easier and stronger encryption capabilities, more clear sound, less signal noise, longer battery life and greater volume of calls through the same frequencies.
The encryption is of particular value to police.
"From a police point of view, when you're in the middle of a serious operational issue you can't really have the bad guys listening in on what the police's next move is," Galloway said.
In addition to the costs to the region, municipalities and other users will be responsible for replacing their user equipment.
A request for proposals is expected to be issued in early 2014 and a contract awarded mid-year.
pdesmond@therecord.com
Replacing emergency radio system expected to cost $26 million
By Paige Desmond
WATERLOO REGION — The Region of Waterloo expects to spend at least $26 million to upgrade voice radio systems for local police, fire, transit and other services from analog to digital.
Council voted Tuesday to issue a request for proposals for replacement of the region's two-way voice radio system which is expected to be obsolete as early as 2018.
Politicians plan to spend about $21.8 million to buy the system and about $4 million to finance the debt purchase. Development charges may cover some costs.
"It is very expensive and unfortunately the analog system will be redundant and unable to be maintained in 2018," said Coun. Tom Galloway, who also chairs the Waterloo Region Police Services Board.
Staff say it could cost the region beyond the estimate because potential suppliers were unable to offer estimates without more detailed information on what the region requires.
The region is responsible for the voice radio systems used by local police, fire departments, ambulances, municipal operations, Grand River Transit, the Grand River Conservation Authority and the Red Cross.
Municipal and other partners are responsible for purchasing equipment such as hand-held devices.
The current system was installed in 1994.
Replacement of the archaic system was expected to be complete in 2018, but a steering committee representing those affected is recommending the date — and funding — be moved up to 2017.
Part of the concern is that equipment and parts to maintain an analog operation will become increasingly difficult to find as production slows in anticipation of the digital age. "You don't want to be in a situation where you're still installing the new system and the old system is not operating," Galloway said.
But he's concerned about moving the project timeline ahead. It means the region would have to issue about $2.2 million in debt in 2014 that it wasn't expecting until 2015.
Regional council already has to find a way to pay $5 million in additional debt costs in 2014 for other projects. That's equal to a regional tax increase of about one per cent.
"I'm going to have to seriously question the need for that," Galloway said of the new timeline. "We do have some issues with our borrowing and our debenture costs."
A new system will have its perks.
It's expected to offer easier and stronger encryption capabilities, more clear sound, less signal noise, longer battery life and greater volume of calls through the same frequencies.
The encryption is of particular value to police.
"From a police point of view, when you're in the middle of a serious operational issue you can't really have the bad guys listening in on what the police's next move is," Galloway said.
In addition to the costs to the region, municipalities and other users will be responsible for replacing their user equipment.
A request for proposals is expected to be issued in early 2014 and a contract awarded mid-year.
pdesmond@therecord.com
