BATTLE CREEK, MI (WNWN/WTVB) – The leadership for the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority announced on Tuesday they had signed an agreement with Motorola for a system solution and hundreds of portable radios, which they say will improve communications for first responders countywide.
The proposal and contract were approved at a special meeting of the Authority’s Board of Directors on Monday after voters approved a millage for the authority during the August 2 Primary.
The proposal totals over $14 million covering two primary components—system infrastructure and portable devices.
As part of the system that the radios operate on, four new towers will be built, which will add to two that are already in use.
The system will operate on 10 communication channels, with an additional one for data.
The agreement also calls for the Authority to purchase 413 portable radios, 167 mobile radios, 400 pagers, 10 control stations that will be installed within the agencies, and Radio Manager software that allows the devices to be updated via WiFi.
Dispatch will work with public safety agencies countywide on distribution of the radios and pagers.
Authority Executive Director Michael Armitage says, “This proposal addresses the current communications challenges facing the 911 communication ecosystem in Calhoun County. With the voters’ approval in August, we are taking the first steps to improve communications between emergency agencies and Dispatch, which will lead to a safer conditions for all residents.”
The lease purchase agreement with Motorola lasts 10 years. It will take two years to build out the system.
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