Radio project moves ahead

Motorola will be providing the county’s new radio equipment.

Jay County Commissioners agreed Wednesday to move forward with a $6 million to $7 million project with Motorola to connect the county to the statewide public safety system.

Barry Ritter of Ritter Strategic Services explained two companies, JK Communications and Motorola, submitted proposals for the project, which will involve building infrastructure to meet needs for hooking up to the Integrated Public Safety Commission’s radio system.

Motorola estimated its overall project will range between $6.6 million and $7.1 million. JK Communications estimated its project would cost between $7.9 million and $8.3 million. (Ritter noted JK Communications’ proposal did not include the cost of land acquisition.)

Cost estimates presented Wednesday also include prices for units to be distributed to municipal agencies, such as Portland Police Department.

The new equipment would allow both emergency response workers and non-public safety employees — Jay County Highway Department and utility departments — to communicate. (Integrated Public Safety Commission within the last year changed allowances on its system, providing an opportunity for non-public safety agencies such as highway departments to utilize a segment of the system, Ritter explained after the meeting.)

Ritter Strategic Services developed various specifications for the system, requiring criteria such as interoperability across 700 to 800 megahertz bandwidths and integration with existing dispatch infrastructure and Jay County Sheriff’s Office. Both proposals qualified, with both companies undergoing an evaluation process.

Motorola scored significantly higher on evaluations, earning a recommendation from local emergency response stakeholders to move forward with its project, explained Ritter.

Sheriff Ray Newton spoke in favor of pursuing the project through Motorola.

“We have a longstanding history with them, I cannot say anything bad about them,” he said. “They’ve always been there for us.”

Jay County officials have been looking into replacing outdated radio equipment for local responders for roughly six years.

Just over a year ago, commissioners approved a $178,500 contract with Ritter Strategic Services to move forward with planning, procurement, engineering, project management and other work related to switching over to the Integrated Public Safety Commission’s system. 

After commissioners president Chad Aker pointed to a need for a radio system for non-emergency responders, commissioners amended the contract with Ritter Strategic Services in February, allotting an additional $39,000 to look into costs and other information regarding the purchase of a standalone radio system.

Commissioners president Chad Aker recalled the additional work, noting it led to a delay. He said looking into a separate system for non-public safety entities allowed officials to exercise their due diligence on the matter.

As for the overall project, commissioner Doug Horn expressed optimism.

“This does everything we want it to do and sets us up good for the future, too,” Horn said. “Not that everything lasts forever, but it gets us in a good place.”

Commissioners Duane Monroe, Aker and Horn agreed to move forward with the company’s proposal.

Next steps include the county entering into contract negotiations with Motorola. Part of that process will involve ensuring all entities obtain the amount of mobile (in-vehicle) and portable radios that are needed.

“Discussion regarding who’s paying for what would be an important discussion to be had moving forward with all the units of government,” said Ritter.

Commissioners pointed to a joint session slated for Aug. 13 with Jay County Council and Jay County Country Living Advisory Board. (Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. prior to the joint session, with the session’s meeting time still to be determined.)