December 23, 2020 at 5:53 p.m.
Going digital
Board of works approves police department radios
Going digital
Portland Police Department is getting new radios.
The city’s board of works at its meeting Tuesday approved the purchase of $138,749.95 worth of two-way Motorola radios from Fort Wayne’s ERS Wireless. This will allow the department to convert from analog to a digital network.
The board also amended its long-term control plan for wastewater treatment plant upgrades mandated by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
“We have to able to communicate,” said assistant chief Josh Stephenson, who will become chief Jan. 1 (see related story), when discussing the planned upgrade. He called it his no. 1 priority at the moment.
“There are cheaper routes to go, but you really get what you pay for,” Darrick Engelman of ERS Wireless said during the meeting. He said these are the same radios, which he called the best in the business, used by Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Wells and Adams counties for their police officers.
Planned upgrades include new portable, station and police vehicle radios that will eventually allow Portland police to immediately communicate with police departments on digital networks.
BearCom of Garland, Texas, was the only other bidder at $146,493.25.
Jeff Hersha of Jones & Henry Engineers also presented a new preliminary engineer report for the wastewater treatment plan that will soon be submitted to IDEM.
Hersha explained the new plan will prioritize construction of a new equalizing basin and pump station over an oxidation ditch.
Previous plans had the ditch being built ahead of the basin and station. Geotechnical and archaeological reviews of the site will also have to be completed prior to construction, Hersha said.
The board voted to approve the plan after some hesitation from board member Jerry Leonhard.
“Seems like every time we turn around we have to deal with IDEM, anymore,” Jerry Leonhard said.
He originally lobbied to table the matter until Hersha pointed out that IDEM funding for projects is based in part on a cumulative score, and more points are put toward that score if applications and other pertinent documents are turned in on time.
Hersha said he plans to submit the new report in January.
In other business, board members John Boggs, Steve McIntosh and Leonhard approved claims totaling $1,800 from Guy Tressler Excavating, Laux Plumbing & Heating Inc. and Aker Plumbing to repair a sewer line for a house at 316 Main St.
The city’s board of works at its meeting Tuesday approved the purchase of $138,749.95 worth of two-way Motorola radios from Fort Wayne’s ERS Wireless. This will allow the department to convert from analog to a digital network.
The board also amended its long-term control plan for wastewater treatment plant upgrades mandated by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
“We have to able to communicate,” said assistant chief Josh Stephenson, who will become chief Jan. 1 (see related story), when discussing the planned upgrade. He called it his no. 1 priority at the moment.
“There are cheaper routes to go, but you really get what you pay for,” Darrick Engelman of ERS Wireless said during the meeting. He said these are the same radios, which he called the best in the business, used by Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Wells and Adams counties for their police officers.
Planned upgrades include new portable, station and police vehicle radios that will eventually allow Portland police to immediately communicate with police departments on digital networks.
BearCom of Garland, Texas, was the only other bidder at $146,493.25.
Jeff Hersha of Jones & Henry Engineers also presented a new preliminary engineer report for the wastewater treatment plan that will soon be submitted to IDEM.
Hersha explained the new plan will prioritize construction of a new equalizing basin and pump station over an oxidation ditch.
Previous plans had the ditch being built ahead of the basin and station. Geotechnical and archaeological reviews of the site will also have to be completed prior to construction, Hersha said.
The board voted to approve the plan after some hesitation from board member Jerry Leonhard.
“Seems like every time we turn around we have to deal with IDEM, anymore,” Jerry Leonhard said.
He originally lobbied to table the matter until Hersha pointed out that IDEM funding for projects is based in part on a cumulative score, and more points are put toward that score if applications and other pertinent documents are turned in on time.
Hersha said he plans to submit the new report in January.
In other business, board members John Boggs, Steve McIntosh and Leonhard approved claims totaling $1,800 from Guy Tressler Excavating, Laux Plumbing & Heating Inc. and Aker Plumbing to repair a sewer line for a house at 316 Main St.
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