Cayuga County Legislators are scrambling to replace some emergency service communication equipment that failed twice over the weekend.

A critical radio base station in the county E-911 system went down first for 90 minutes and then several hours Saturday and Sunday, County Manager Wayne Allen said. Legislative leaders approved an emergency purchase that will range from $25,000 to $30,000. “We can't afford to let it happen again,” Allen said.

The base station is at the heart of the system that links county dispatch with fire departments and emergency services.

The county will purchase a replacement to be shipped from California as soon as possible with the emergency authorization of the Ways and Means and Public Safety Committee heads, Legislature Chairman George Fearon, R-Springport, and minority leader Michele Sedor, D-Sennett. Judicial and Public Safety Committee Chairman Raymond Lockwood, R-Aurelius said the base station will solve the problem in the immediate future, but the weekend's glitch underscores the need for the 50-year-old system to be upgraded.

That improvement is estimated at about $5 million. It's included in a list of recommended capital projects Allen offered to Legislators with the 2008 tentative budget this month.

“Hopefully this will put it at the forefront,” said Lockwood, adding the communication system is one of his top priorities. “Obviously, I'm going to push for this. It's a public safety issue now that we really need to get taken care of.”

The proposed capital improvement plan recommends the county begin borrowing for the communication system in 2008. Lockwood said county leaders are looking for grant assistance, as well.