AURELIUS - More than 80 municipal officials, emergency responders, vendors and citizens heard the county's communication consultant explain his recommendations to upgrade Cayuga County's 911 communication system at a meeting held at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES Tuesday night.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Auburn Fire Department Lt. Bill Wright listens to representatives from Langone Associates make their proposals for new radio systems for fire, EMS and police departments throughout Cayuga County at the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES in Aurelius Tuesday.
Auburn Fire Department Lt. Bill Wright listens to representatives from Langone Associates make their proposals for new radio systems for fire, EMS and police departments throughout Cayuga County at the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES in Aurelius Tuesday.
Chick Langone, of Langone & Associates, Tewksbury, Mass., explained his $23 million system - a UHF based communications infrastructure tying the city and the county.
That choice fits other members of the Five-County Consortium, also updating their communications systems.
Langone stressed interoperationality and the possibility of finding grants to cut costs. Auburn already uses a trunked P25 UHF system, similar to a telephone network, allowing virtual talkpaths not tied to frequencies.
“We run an entire city on UHF,” Auburn Police Chief Gary J. Giannotta said. “I run four different units off this one radio. We've enjoyed this for 15 years. It's able to add people. This is a safety issue.”
He acknowledged that $23 million was a lot of money.
“We've got one shot to do it and do it right,” he said.
In other areas of the county, emergency responders rely on a more than 50-year-old VHF radio system for 911 calls. Towers, especially one near Niles, have needed constant repairs. When radios go down, volunteer firefighters remain at the firehouse to handle emergencies.
“I guess I've been the driving force of getting a new radio system in the county,” County Legislator Raymond Lockwood said.
The UHF system could cost taxpayers $2 million a year to pay back $24 million over a period of 12 years.
“I was curious about your research,” Peggy Bradley, Town of Genoa board member told Langone.
She suggested using existing cell towers and integrating other services.
“We try to use existing towers where possible,” Langone said, indicating that prospect is being looked into.
“We don't know what it's going to cost until the procurement document, maybe less with towers,” said Denise Stayton, E-911 administrator. “We don't know until we have a vendor who tells us the cost. We're not obligated until we sign a contract.”
Faulty radio communication was a factor at the Highland Park Golf Course fire and a recent fight at the Falcon Lanes when eight units from different entities were called in, and the sheriff couldn't talk to Onondaga County.
A new VHF system relying on towers and radio frequencies is an alternative. Many questioned why VHF was a second choice given that many departments use that system.
Langone stressed his task to find a single solution. If VHF continued alongside UHF systems, a gateway device would be needed to patch into the incompatible systems, making countywide radio coverage unreliable.
The budget estimate includes 12 communication sites throughout the county, Langone said, more required in the south because of the terrain. Included were 1,837 new radios and 1,172 pagers, $3.1 million for facilities, $12 million for infrastructure and equipment, and $8.2 million for parts and modules. A lower estimate limited to police, fire and emergency services, amounted to $20.7 million.
The VHF system replacement for the county, totaling $10.6 million, excludes the city, which would remain on UHF. Included were 1,514 radios and 1,172 pagers with $2 million for facilities, $6 million for infrastructure and $2.6 million for parts and modules. If some existing county radios were used, that figure could shrink to $960,000.
Lockwood said the matter would be discussed again at the next public safety meeting.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
That choice fits other members of the Five-County Consortium, also updating their communications systems.
Langone stressed interoperationality and the possibility of finding grants to cut costs. Auburn already uses a trunked P25 UHF system, similar to a telephone network, allowing virtual talkpaths not tied to frequencies.
“We run an entire city on UHF,” Auburn Police Chief Gary J. Giannotta said. “I run four different units off this one radio. We've enjoyed this for 15 years. It's able to add people. This is a safety issue.”
He acknowledged that $23 million was a lot of money.
“We've got one shot to do it and do it right,” he said.
In other areas of the county, emergency responders rely on a more than 50-year-old VHF radio system for 911 calls. Towers, especially one near Niles, have needed constant repairs. When radios go down, volunteer firefighters remain at the firehouse to handle emergencies.
“I guess I've been the driving force of getting a new radio system in the county,” County Legislator Raymond Lockwood said.
The UHF system could cost taxpayers $2 million a year to pay back $24 million over a period of 12 years.
“I was curious about your research,” Peggy Bradley, Town of Genoa board member told Langone.
She suggested using existing cell towers and integrating other services.
“We try to use existing towers where possible,” Langone said, indicating that prospect is being looked into.
“We don't know what it's going to cost until the procurement document, maybe less with towers,” said Denise Stayton, E-911 administrator. “We don't know until we have a vendor who tells us the cost. We're not obligated until we sign a contract.”
Faulty radio communication was a factor at the Highland Park Golf Course fire and a recent fight at the Falcon Lanes when eight units from different entities were called in, and the sheriff couldn't talk to Onondaga County.
A new VHF system relying on towers and radio frequencies is an alternative. Many questioned why VHF was a second choice given that many departments use that system.
Langone stressed his task to find a single solution. If VHF continued alongside UHF systems, a gateway device would be needed to patch into the incompatible systems, making countywide radio coverage unreliable.
The budget estimate includes 12 communication sites throughout the county, Langone said, more required in the south because of the terrain. Included were 1,837 new radios and 1,172 pagers, $3.1 million for facilities, $12 million for infrastructure and equipment, and $8.2 million for parts and modules. A lower estimate limited to police, fire and emergency services, amounted to $20.7 million.
The VHF system replacement for the county, totaling $10.6 million, excludes the city, which would remain on UHF. Included were 1,514 radios and 1,172 pagers with $2 million for facilities, $6 million for infrastructure and $2.6 million for parts and modules. If some existing county radios were used, that figure could shrink to $960,000.
Lockwood said the matter would be discussed again at the next public safety meeting.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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