KINGSPORT — A new emergency radio system that is saving Kingsport, Bristol and Sullivan County more than $1 million is turning out to be an even better deal than originally thought.
Sullivan County and its cities are teaming up with the state of Tennessee on its statewide 800 MHz emergency radio system. The new digital, IP system will replace the decade-old analog system and still be the main system used by police and fire officials, the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office and emergency medical responders throughout the county.Over the past decade, the analog system has seen a substantial amount of use, worn out and failed in some respects. Finding replacement parts is becoming more difficult each year.
As a result, local police, fire and emergency personnel established a radio committee more than a year ago to look at the issue and come up with a recommendation on a replacement system. While these meetings were taking place, the committee became aware of the fact that the state of Tennessee was planning to purchase a new statewide system for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Earlier this year, Sullivan County Commissioner Mark Bowery, whose district is in Kingsport, updated the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on the partnership, saying the 10-year contract with the state would save the region about $1.4 million.Last week, Bowery returned to the BMA with some more good news about the partnership.
"We did get the price down by another $150,000. That's good and we're now waiting on the pricing for the radios for the county," Bowery said.
Under the original partnership, Bowery said the state would cover the cost of maintenance and the annual update for the new radio system (about $85,000 annually), while Sullivan County and its cities would cover the cost of the infrastructure (equipment on four radio towers) and the yearly usage fee on each radio.
"We're not going to be looking to revamp the whole system 10 years from now," said Kingsport Fire Chief Craig Dye. "It's going to be kept up by the state. This has been the saving grace."
Sullivan County plans to purchase the infrastructure for the new system at a cost of $6.23 million with the resolution expected to go before the Sullivan County Commission next month, Bowery said. Originally, each government had planned to purchase its own consoles.
"It's an improvement for everybody without having to spend a lot of extra money," Dye said.
Under the agreement, each respective government will pay $200 a year per radio to be on the state's system (basically a yearly user fee). Kingsport plans to include $2 million for its radios in a bond issuance expected later this year.
The number of radios to be on the system is not known at this time, but a rough estimate has Kingsport using approximately 500 radios, Bristol 300 and Sullivan County 1,500. And of course, the cost of the actual radio would be a separate purchase in addition to the $200 a year usage fee.
Towers are currently located in Blountville, Bristol, on Holston Mountain and Bays Mountain, and the radio equipment on the towers would need to be replaced to accommodate the new system. In addition, the tower on Holston Mountain is not tall enough for the signal to get over the trees and will either have to be extended or a new one built in its place.
If each government had purchased its own equipment and radios and not partnered with the state, Bowery said the total cost would have been $21 million.
"While not inexpensive, thanks to the work you've done, it was going to be millions more," Mayor Dennis Phillips said of Bowery's work. "It may be a team effort, but you're leading the team."
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