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Commissioner Brown - To Approve the Purchase/Replacement of the Public Safety Radio System with the NC VIPER System, which Includes the System Infrastructure and the Replacement of 1800 County Handheld and Mobile Radios and Includes a 12-Channel, 8-Site Simulcast System with 25 Consoles
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STAFF CONTACT
Joseph D. Ramey - Chief of Police - Gaston County Police Department - 704-866-3321
BUDGET IMPACT
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
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BACKGROUND
The Gaston County Radio Communications system is utilized by all County public safety to include twenty-six volunteer and municipal fire departments, GEMS and four volunteer rescue squads, Sheriff’s Office, Gaston County, Gastonia, Cramerton, Stanley, Belmont, Ranlo, Lowell, and Bessemer City Police Departments. Gaston County currently uses UHF/VHF radio technology which is over fifty years old and has limited capabilities. In addition, the current system lacks technological support from major radio manufacturers. Our current system underwent re-farming over fifteen years ago and is in need of repair. The County has recently spent over $100,000 in evaluating and completing minor repairs to the current system in addition to the funds paid to the City of Gastonia for maintenance. County staff, at the direction of the Manager’s Office, began to evaluate the current system over two and a half years ago. The staff included representatives from Gaston County Police, Sheriff’s Office, GEMS, and Fire Marshal’s Office.
After extensive review and evaluation it was determined the citizens of Gaston County would be better served by replacing the current system with a more modern 800-band radio system. County staff, during research, determined there are two 800 systems available to replace the current system, NC VIPER and Charlotte’s UASI system. County staff has held meetings with both system representatives, researched the costs of each system over their projected life cycle, spoken with various users of each system, in an effort to make an informed decision regarding replacement of the radio system. The research and evaluation determined that over the life of the systems NC VIPER is the most cost effective solution. Staff is currently exchanging Memorandum of Understanding with the NC VIPER representatives. The volunteer firefighters are currently working to pursue AFG Grant funding for the replacement system.
The NC VIPER System which stands for Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders is the state approved interoperability system that is used by all state emergency providers. The system provides the opportunity to communicate with other 800 systems and provides statewide coverage. The NC VIPER system was unanimously recommended by the county public safety committee members.
The system will consist of eight new tower sites with twelve channels, one prime site licensed for 4,000 subscribers, and eight new Alcatel microwave paths to provide 95% coverage for Gaston County. The system will also include twenty-five MCC7500 consoles for the main 911 center and the backup center. The services included will be installation, configuration, optimization, and 24/7 integration support during warranty period. Professional services including engineering, project management, system technologist, and user training services, and installation total for site system. There are no additional maintenance costs or upgrade costs associated with the NC VIPER system if the system is turned over to the State of North Carolina. The total estimated cost of the system is $15,135,500 which includes infrastructure and replacement of 1,800 mobile and handheld radios.
County staff requests that the Board of Commissioners approve the purchase/replacement of the current public safety radio system with the NC VIPER Radio System. The NC VIPER System is authorized under NC General Statute § 20-196 - Statewide radio system authorized; use of telephone lines in emergencies:
The Secretary of Public Safety, through the State Highway Patrol is hereby authorized and directed to set up and maintain a statewide radio system, with adequate broadcasting stations so situate as to make the service available to all parts of the State for the purpose of maintaining radio contact with the members of the State Highway Patrol and other officers of the State, to the end that the traffic laws upon the highways may be more adequately enforced and that the criminal use of the highways may be prevented. The Secretary of Public Safety, through the State Highway Patrol, is hereby authorized to establish a plan of operation in accordance with Federal Communication Commission rules so that all certified law-enforcement officers within the State may use the law enforcement emergency frequency of 155.475MHz.
The Secretary of Public Safety is likewise authorized and empowered to arrange with the various telephone companies of the State for the use of their lines for emergency calls by the members of the State Highway Patrol, if it shall be found practicable to arrange apparatus for temporary contact with said telephone circuits along the highways of the State.
In order to make this service more generally useful, the various boards of county commissioners and the governing boards of the various cities and towns are hereby authorized and empowered to provide radio receiving sets in the offices and vehicles of their various officers, and such expenditures are declared to be a legal expenditure of any funds that may be available for police protection. (1935, c. 324, s. 6; 1941, c. 36; 1957, c. 65, s. 11; 1973, c. 507, s. 5; 1975, c. 716, s. 5; 1977, c. 70, ss. 13, 14; c. 464, s. 34; 1983, c. 717, s. 7; 1987, c. 525; 2011-145, s. 19.1(g), (p); 2015-241, s. 16A.7(j).)
The County Finance Department will work to identify additional funding sources for this project.
POLICY IMPACT
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ATTACHMENTS
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