Critical 911 upgrades OKed

Jul. 25—Noting the importance of keeping Barton County's emergency services up and on the air, the County Commission Tuesday morning approved a pair of maintenance agreements with Motorola Solutions, the first for two 800 megahertz radio repeater towers and the second for the complementary radio console.

Barton County approved an agreement with the Great Bend company in 2020 for the two towers, 911 Director Dena Popp said. That agreement included maintenance, support and the software update agreement costs for the first year.

Popp has received a $63,923 invoice for the continuation of services through April 30, 2024, and noted 911 tax funds will be used to pay the bill.

The county tapped a State of Kansas COVID-related Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) grant money to initially install and maintain the repeaters, she said,. adding that also covered the first year of a five-year contract with Motorola. But due to grant stipulations, it could not be used for the expense after that.

So, after year one, Popp's department has had to fund the agreement at the county level.

"This maintenance contract it's pretty important to us," she said. "This provides all of the upgrades to keep us connected with everybody else in the state."

In addition, it includes a host of alarm features to notify of an intrusion, power failure or if the air conditioning (necessary for the sensitive equipment) goes down. "It saves me a lot of trips to Susank (where the tower is located) to monitor that," she said.

Radio console

The county also approved an agreement with Motorola Solutions in 2022 for a radio console upgrade at Communications, she said. That agreement included maintenance, support and software update agreement costs for the first year.

Popp has received a $34,575 invoice for the continuation of services through March 31, 2024. General fund money will cover this cost.

"This one is the internal component of the radio system at the 911 Center," she said. "It also provides monthly computer equipment and technology upgrades."

"This one is very important to us as well," she said. Among the features are alarms that notify Mobile Solutions if there appears to be problems with the equipment, which in turn notifies 911.

Barton County Commission meeting at a glance

Here is a quick look at what the Barton County Commission did Tuesday morning:

—Approved a maintenance agreement with Motorola Solutions for the county's two 800 megahertz repeater towers for the 911 Department.

—Approved a maintenance, support and software update agreement with Motorola Solutions for 911's radio console.

—Approved a private fireworks display requested by Veronica Ludwig at 1183 NE 40 Ave., Hoisington, the evening of July 29, for the Dyer family reunion.

Following the agenda meeting, the following appointments were scheduled:

—9:45 a.m. — finance update with County Administrator Matt Patzner.

—10 a.m. — Workforce Development Grant for Public Health with Public Health Director Karen Winkelman.

—10:15 a.m. — program update with County Engineer Barry McManaman.

—10:30 a.m. — regular business discussion with County Administrator Matt Patzner.