A 21-member committee that has been working for years on a new radio system for the county's emergency responders is on its way to being officially recognized as an advisory board to the Cayuga County Legislature.
A resolution scheduled to come before the Legislature's Judicial and Public Safety Committee Tuesday would establish the Cayuga County Radio Committee as an official advisory group just in time for the board to take the next big step toward a multi-million dollar replacement of the county's deteriorating radio system.
Contractor bids for the project, which could cost as much as $20 million, are due Nov. 17.
“It's going to come to a point where a lot of decisions are going to be made,” said E-911 administrator Denise Stayton.
The radio committee consists of 21 state, county and local emergency responders, including state police, the county sheriff, Auburn fire chief and village and town police departments who are not paid to serve on the committee. The committee does not have any decision-making authority but will be responsible in the coming months for presenting the Legislature with a convincing proposal for why the radio system must be replaced.
Once all bids have been submitted, the committee will present the best offer to the Legislature for an up or down vote. Only one bid, from Motorola has been received so far. Replacement of the entire radio system is estimated to cost about $20 million.
“It's very expensive,” said Raymond Lockwood, chair of the public safety committee. “But it's very important to the emergency services that they have an adequate communication system in place.”
The need for a new system is undeniable, he said.
Reception is spotty in parts of the county; some areas in the hilly southern sections are completely unreachable. The towers are constantly in need of repair and can be difficult to fix, Lockwood said. The county's equipment is so old that often the parts needed are no longer being produced.
“We literally go to eBay to get some parts,” he said.
The new radio system would increase the number of towers in the county to improve communication. Fifteen towers would be able to guarantee coverage of 95 percent of the county 95 percent of the time, Stayton said. The county's current system operates with four towers.
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
Contractor bids for the project, which could cost as much as $20 million, are due Nov. 17.
“It's going to come to a point where a lot of decisions are going to be made,” said E-911 administrator Denise Stayton.
The radio committee consists of 21 state, county and local emergency responders, including state police, the county sheriff, Auburn fire chief and village and town police departments who are not paid to serve on the committee. The committee does not have any decision-making authority but will be responsible in the coming months for presenting the Legislature with a convincing proposal for why the radio system must be replaced.
Once all bids have been submitted, the committee will present the best offer to the Legislature for an up or down vote. Only one bid, from Motorola has been received so far. Replacement of the entire radio system is estimated to cost about $20 million.
“It's very expensive,” said Raymond Lockwood, chair of the public safety committee. “But it's very important to the emergency services that they have an adequate communication system in place.”
The need for a new system is undeniable, he said.
Reception is spotty in parts of the county; some areas in the hilly southern sections are completely unreachable. The towers are constantly in need of repair and can be difficult to fix, Lockwood said. The county's equipment is so old that often the parts needed are no longer being produced.
“We literally go to eBay to get some parts,” he said.
The new radio system would increase the number of towers in the county to improve communication. Fifteen towers would be able to guarantee coverage of 95 percent of the county 95 percent of the time, Stayton said. The county's current system operates with four towers.
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
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