Construction of a new radio tower in Isabella County that will improve first responder communications is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Isabella County commissioners last week paid a third milestone of $439,746 to Motorola for the project, which is being funded by the state.
Isabella County Sheriff Michael Main said construction on the tower, which will be located at Isabella County Central Dispatch at Isabella Road and Preston Street, is expected to begin within the next 45 days.
Main said the appropriation of $4.8 million by the state for a new radio tower came after first responders in Isabella County had difficulty communicating in big-box stores, buildings on the campus of Central Michigan University, heavy construction-style buildings, schools and Saginaw Chippewa Tribal entities.
State Sen. Roger Hauck, R-Mt. Pleasant, helped appropriate the money during his second term as a state representative, Main said.
Hauck was instrumental in getting the funds to the county for better communications for police, fire, ambulance, emergency management, public works and major medical facilities in the county, Main said.
The $4.8 million was appropriated to the county to build a 195-foot monopole structure at central dispatch.
That location ties into the county’s existing communications tower, which is owned by the state, and when complete will create a loop between the existing tower, the new tower and a tower located in Midland County that’s near Shepherd, Main said.
The project might require the purchase of smaller antennae on some buildings to ensure a signal is being received, according to Main.
“It is anticipated that this loop and new tower will create an appropriate level of communication in the structures throughout Mt. Pleasant, Union Township, the CMU campus and the Tribal business and government buildings,” Main said. “We are also looking at making sure we have appropriate coverage within the Shepherd and Beal City schools with this project.
“This could require some additional smaller antennae on their buildings to assure the signal is being received through the buildings.”
Main anticipates additional funding to refresh all of the law enforcement mobile and portable radios throughout the county.
“Currently, the majority of radios being used by law enforcement are at the end of life and are not being supported for service any longer,” Main said. “The refresh will assure that law enforcement has the ability to communicate with no delays or connectivity failures.
“All of the existing radios will be provided to fire and other public safety partners to provide them additional communication improvements.”
Currently, work has been completed on the design and purchase of the necessary items for the project, which is expected to be completed during the last quarter of this year, Main said, adding that the new tower will provide better, safer and more effective services for everyone who lives, works or travels in Isabella County.
Funding will support 34 nonprofit and government agencies across the company’s Indiana service territory
PLAINFIELD, Ind., March 7, 2024 /3BL/ – First responders across Indiana, including local police, fire and emergency management agencies (EMAs), will benefit from more than $200,000 in grants from the Duke Energy Foundation. The funding will help public safety agencies increase their response capabilities during severe weather and other emergencies through advanced preparation, planning, equipment and training.
“When severe weather strikes, we rely on strong partnerships with local emergency management and law enforcement agencies to effectively respond and restore power in affected communities,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “These grants will help give first responders the tools and training they need to respond to any emergency.”
During major emergencies and natural disasters, local emergency management agencies play a critical role in providing information, resources and support that Duke Energy relies on to speed power restoration for its customers.
“Successful preparedness, response and recovery requires a community approach,” said Sean Stoops, chief of the Avon Police Department. “We envisioned equipping all of our patrol vehicles with automated external defibrillators (AEDs). With the support of Duke Energy and other community partners, we were able to bring that goal to fruition, purchasing 35 AEDs that our officers can use to deliver life-saving measures to a person in cardiac arrest.”
Grants were awarded to the following organizations:
Bartholomew County EMA
$8,000 to purchase new water rescue equipment, including a new motor for an airboat
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office
$5,000 to support public safety measures and preparations ahead of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024
Brown County EMA
$5,500 to help equip a Brown County EMA emergency operations center with computers, monitors, software and other electrical components
Cass County EMA
$4,000 to sponsor a hazardous materials technician certification course
City of Brazil Fire Department
$7,500 to support the department’s efforts to promote its “Free Smoke Detector Program”
City of Clinton Fire Department
$7,000 to support the department’s water rescue unit with the purchase of a sonar unit, anchors, throw bags and medical items
City of Delphi Police Department
$6,500 to support the purchase of a vehicle that can access trails and other confined areas in emergencies
City of Greencastle Fire Department
$7,500 to support emergency preparedness and training
Clark County EMA
$2,750 to purchase a rescue boat that can be used during water rescue emergencies
Crawford County EMA
$2,750 to provide weather radios to local residents
Fayette County EMA
$10,000 to purchase portable, two-way radios and firefighter breathing apparatus
Floyd County EMA
$2,750 to provide weather radios to local residents
Fountain County EMA
$2,205 to purchase safety cones that can be used to block restricted areas
Franklin County EMA
$10,000 to fund new equipment and training, including an unmanned aerial vehicle with thermal and infrared technology, water rescue equipment, and mass sheltering items such as cots and personal care kits
Fulton County EMA
$5,000 to conduct a hazardous materials tabletop exercise
Gibson County EMA
$11,000 to provide education and training for first responders
Hamilton County EMA
$10,000 to enhance community outreach and preparedness education
Harrison County EMA
$2,750 to purchase an unmanned aerial vehicle that can be deployed in planning and response operations
Huntington County EMA
$5,000 to purchase various supplies and equipment, including uniforms
Jefferson County EMA
$2,799 to purchase an unmanned aerial vehicle
Jennings County EMA
$5,000 to equip the department’s disaster response vehicle with a thermal imaging camera and provide weather alert radios to local residents
Knox County EMA
$11,000 to purchase cots and amenities for displaced residents during emergencies
Lawrence County EMA
$5,500 to purchase a generator that can provide back-up power to a Lawrence County EMA facility in an emergency
Monroe County EMA
$5,500 to provide weather radios to local residents
Montgomery County Emergency Response Team
$6,785 to support the purchase of a small, enclosed trailer equipped with thermal blankets, cooling towels, an electric kettle, instant hot packs, an electric heater and other supplies that support firefighter rehabilitation
Orange County EMA
$5,500 to provide weather radios to local residents
Scott County EMA
$2,750 to purchase an unmanned aerial vehicle
Switzerland County EMA
$9,000 to purchase firefighter equipment
Tippecanoe County Surveyor’s Office
$6,510 to purchase rescue helmets
Town of Avon Police Department
$22,000 to equip patrol vehicles with AEDs
Town of Cambridge City Fire Department
$3,500 to purchase new firefighter boots
Town of Converse Volunteer Fire Company
$10,000 to purchase a thermal imaging camera
Town of Dunreith Fire Department
$4,000 to purchase new firefighter boots
Washington County EMA
$2,750 to provide weather radios to local residents
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually in charitable gifts to Indiana and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/Foundation.
Duke Energy Indiana
Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 890,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.
The Belchertown Police Department at 70 State St. STAFF PHOTO/DAN LITTLE
The Belchertown Police Department at 70 State St. STAFF PHOTO/DAN LITTLE
Senior dispatcher Iain Knight fields calls on Wednesday afternoon at the Belchertown Police Department. The town is in the process of transferring its dispatch services into the Wilbraham Regional Emergency Communications Center effective July 1. STAFF PHOTO/DAN LITTLE
Senior dispatcher Iain Knight fields calls on Wednesday afternoon at the Belchertown Police Department. The town is in the process of transferring its dispatch services into the Wilbraham Regional Emergency Communications Center effective July 1. STAFF PHOTO/DAN LITTLE
BELCHERTOWN — The town this summer is likely to become the latest to follow a growing trend in the region of outsourcing emergency communications to regional dispatch centers.
Staffing shortages for dispatchers and $7.6 million in upcoming radio equipment repairs are motivating Belchertown’s emergency service personnel to move dispatch services into the Wilbraham Regional Emergency Communications Center on July 1. In addition to providing adequate staff, Belchertown Police Chief Kevin Pacunas said regionalization will push the town’s radio repairs toward the top of state grant priorities.
“I looked at other agencies and other communities around us that offer the same service and Wilbraham was definitely the right fit,” Fire Chief John Ingram said.
Belchertown will compensate Wilbraham for use of the town’s dispatch center, but according to Pacunas the exact rate and contract are still under negotiations.
Pacunas and Ingram prefer Wilbraham because of its proximity to the town and its state-of-the-art facility. Unlike WESTCOMM Regional Dispatch in Chicopee that serves Longmeadow, Monson, East Longmeadow and Ware, the dispatch center in Wilbraham handles only Hampden and Wilbraham.
Belchertown currently has five dispatchers who work full time and four who are part time, but Pacunas said the station requires at least eight or nine full-time dispatchers to handle the call demand. The town receives 16,000 to 18,000 calls for service per year, of which 1,700 are 911 calls. Without the extra hands, dispatchers work longer weeks, adding another roadblock to the already-difficult process of recruiting new staff.
“We normally have two (dispatchers) on. Sometimes it’s only one,” Pacunas said. “This (move) will give us three to four per shift if we regionalized. Granted, Wilbraham and Hampden will also be in the mix, but it’s not very often that all four dispatchers are going to be on one call from one town.”
The police chief said the Belchertown dispatchers have the option to take positions in Wilbraham.
Despite the changes, the police station won’t be empty. Three part-time clerks will greet residents who enter the station, fill out paperwork and operate the traffic window. When a resident calls the police and fire department non-emergency numbers, one of the part-time clerks who will replace the dispatchers will answer. When the clerks are not working, the call transfers to Wilbraham.
“We are still going to have some part-time clerks there with office hours so that if somebody needs to be at the station for some reason, there will still be a face,” Town Administrator Steven Williams said. “Even though Belchertown is a big town, we still have a small town atmosphere and we still need to maintain.”
Regionalization will also increase the town’s chances of landing state grants to replace or repair aging radio equipment, as the state gives preference to regional dispatch centers when handing out money.
“By doing this it will bring us hopefully to the top of the grant cycle,” said Ingram, noting that the radio system infrastructure on the side of the police station needs to be addressed. “Our radio infrastructure right now is very poor and we really need to get that up and running.”
Pacunas clarified that radios still work and Wilbraham dispatchers can still communicate with officers in an emergency. However, parts of the radio system will fail, resulting in unstable communication.
“July 1 is the date we’re going to officially make the move. We’ll have a soft start in June,” Pacunas said. “But you know, if for some reason we’ve lost all our dispatchers because they know that the end is coming, Wilbraham could hit switch anytime and we could make the move.”
Regionalization will cut funds used to train emergency service personnel on the dispatch system, as well as salary and benefits for nine employees. Williams said he’s still working out the exact amount regionalization will save the town.
Both chiefs affirmed that the state is encouraging regional emergency communication centers to cut operation costs. Regionalizing now, they said, allows Belchertown to pick the best center to join. The Select Board agreed.
“(Regionalization) sounds like it’s coming. If we don’t do it now, we will be forced to do it in some other way,” Select Board Member Peg Louraine said.
Other Hampshire County towns have regionalized in recent months. Southampton, for example, last fall transferred its dispatch services transfer to Easthampton.
Another example is the WESTCOMM Regional Dispatch that serves five communities in Hampden and Hampshire counties.
Emilee Klein can be reached at eklein@gazettenet.com.
The $3 million Interoperable Communications Targeted Grant program of the New York Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (DHSES) gave an important boost to the ambitious Consolidated Two-Way Radio System Project in Dutchess County last week. The Department of Emergency Response is currently working to facilitate the construction of a new interoperable countywide public-safety radio network that will improve coverage gaps and increase reliability for first responder radio communications. County Executive Sue Serino announced that the $3 million award will help offset the County’s costs in this regard.
The estimated overall cost of the County’s Consolidated Two-Way Radio System Project is $32 million.
In an emergency, seconds count, especially when trying to coordinate help between responding agencies and lives are potentially on the line,” stated County Executive Serino. Our dedication to guaranteeing public safety depends on first responders’ capacity to promptly share emergency information so that agencies can plan an effective response. Due to the hard and intricate effort that our Emergency Response team put into this project, Dutchess County is now leading the state in solving these vital communications issues. We are grateful that Governor Hochul and the DHSES acknowledged our work and offered more funding for this important investment.
The grant will assist in the purchase of a Project 25 (P25) digital radio system, which, once installed, will assist in unifying various agencies into a single emergency radio communications system. This will guarantee efficient, direct communication between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, the first responders in Dutchess County, and the agencies in neighboring counties. The P25 system will greatly enhance communications coverage throughout the County, boost system resilience, and integrate emerging technologies in addition to enhancing collaboration amongst agencies and disciplines (fire, emergency medical services, and law enforcement).
Emergency communications infrastructure is critical to preventing coverage gaps that could prove fatal in an emergency,” stated Emergency Response Commissioner Dana Smith. When our new radio system is finished, all of the county’s law enforcement, fire, and emergency services will utilize it, which will save money and improve communication between our 9-1-1 center and the other agencies.
Starting in 2022, the County’s radio project involved locating, planning, and erecting 19 more radio tower locations across Dutchess County. Testing is planned for late 2025, and it is anticipated that equipment installation and site building will start later this year.
The City of Ripon is looking to replace the outdated technology necessary to provide dispatch services from the Ripon Police Department.
On Tuesday, the Ripon City Council will look to approve and authorize the purchase of radio tower equipment for the Channel 1 update.
This item and more will be part of the agenda for the 6 p.m. monthly session inside the Council Chambers, 259 N. Wilma Ave.
The Ripon Communications Center, along with Ripon police, handles dispatch services for both the Escalon Police Department and the Lathrop Police Department.
While Ripon and Escalon shared Channel 1 for radio communications – the outdated T-1 point-to-point link – Lathrop was monitored on a separate channel.
“Based on this set up, the Ripon Communications Center was monitoring two radio channels,” the staff report.
To further complicate matters, the T-1 connection between Ripon and Escalon was permanently disconnected by the provider, TPx Communications, which was moving away from the outdated technologies. Ripon police, unaware of that until two weeks prior to the disconnection, still needed to provide 911 emergency services, with no possibility of an extension from TPx Communications.
La Rue Communications stepped in to provide an additional channel in the Ripon Communication Center – Ripon, Escalon, and Lathrop communications were now on separate channels.
In September, La Rue Communications installed a converting analog to digital device, with hopes that Ripon and Escalon could go back to sharing Channel 1.
That device, local police noted, proved to be unreliable, randomly shutting down at various times while causing public safety issue due to not being able to communicate with Escalon.
La Rue Communications recommended the replacement / upgrade of equipment for the Ripon Communications Center’s radio Channel 1, with the cost not to exceed $119,304 – paid via the General Department Capital Fund.
The Escalon Police Department, in addition, will reimburse the City of Ripon for 50 percent of the cost ($7,531) for the Zetron hardware and software coupled with the cost of labor for the installation.
Learn about current efforts to continue to protect the 4.9 GHz Band for public safety as well as recent filings, key decisions impacting these efforts, and how you can support PSSA’s initiative to protect the 4.9 GHz band for public safety.
