County Asked to Make $2.3 Million Investment in New Radio Communication System for Emergency Services

December 22, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The county may be poised to make a $2.3 million investment under a seven-year financing deal through Motorola to upgrade its radio communication system for emergency services.

The county commission has not yet decided on what action to take. Should the county enter into a contract with Motorola, Mayor Matt Adcock said a revenue source must be identified to fund the annual payments which are expected to be over $346,000. To take advantage of the Motorola offer at current pricing, the county must act before January 19.

For years, the DeKalb County government has operated with a radio system made up of conventional analog technology to communicate between central dispatch and local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS, and rescue squad. But over time, the system’s technology has become antiquated and more unreliable. According to Brad Mullinax, Director of the DeKalb Emergency Communications (E-911) District, the time has come for the county to invest in a new system upgrade.

Last month and again Thursday night, Mullinax urged the county commission to begin making plans to update the county’s mobile, portable, and fixed radio transmission technology and to join the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) which provides first responders the ability to have additional coverage to talk on the radio with surrounding state communication towers during major events and disasters no matter where they (first responders) are located. In order to join the TACN network, Mullinax explained that all county responder radios will need to be replaced.

“We’re on analogue and not even good analogue,” said Mullinax. “We’re not on analogue that we can even repair at this point and that’s the thing that scares me about this more than anything is we’re one lightning strike away from losing all emergency services communications in the county”.

“This is a priority. We have been talking to other ECD districts and counties in the Upper Cumberland. Warren County is exploring this. Putnam County already has a grant to replace their radios and go to TACN. Both Cannon and Coffee County have also completed the transition to TACN. There is a great edge to being with TACN as far as maintenance of this new equipment. If we had a tornado come through and take out all of our radio equipment, it would not be our problem. It would be the state of Tennessee’s problem. We wouldn’t have to absorb that cost,” said Mullinax.

“I have done significant testing with this system and I am confident to put a stamp of approval on it from my standpoint that it will work. I have been inside every school in the last two days with this radio. I have been inside the hospital. I have been inside the courthouse. I have been inside the jail doing testing. I have gone to the factories. We went to S&W Manufacturing and I parked my truck at the northwest corner of the building. I then went back in the building to the southeast corner and even surrounded by concrete walls with metal all around and machines running, I talked to dispatch on the radio and it was clear as a bell. I have no doubt this is a significant improvement in our radio system. I just hope and pray we can somehow make this happen,” said Mullinax.

During Thursday night’s meeting, Mullinax provided information to the county commission on how the purchase of a new system from Motorola could be financed through the company.

“I was asked at the last meeting by a county commissioner to check on financing options. I have done that with different vendors and none of them offer any type of finance or lease program except Motorola. We have obtained an all-inclusive proposal from Motorola to replace the entire county (radio) system for $2.3 million. It would totally equip first responders for the entire county including DeKalb Fire, DeKalb Sheriff, DeKalb EMS, the Rescue Squad and allow the county to put vehicle repeaters, mobiles, and portables in all first responders hands. Mobile radios only that go into ambulances will be supplied by the state. They (Motorola) gave us a proposal. This is a financing option. There is no early pre-payment penalty so this could be paid off at any time. I would not recommend more than seven years on this financing program because that is the longest duration of the warranty. The actual annual payment on the project for a seven-year deal is $346,507,” Mullinax explained.

To help the county offset the first-year cost, Mullinax said the DeKalb 911 Emergency Communications District is offering to make a $300,000 contribution.

“The 911 Board met on December 7 and voted unanimously that if the county wishes to execute the contract with Motorola, we (911 board) will provide a $300,000 incentive reimbursement to the county to go toward that payment,” said Mullinax. “That will just about cover the first year’s payment which is not due until twelve months after the contract is signed. If the contract is signed in January, it would be next January before the first payment is due”.

Mullinax further explained how the 911 Board is able to make that $300,000 contribution to the county.

“We (911 Board) were planning to use that money to purchase new dispatch consoles for our own upgrade, but Motorola has offered to provide our consoles at no cost. As result of that offer to us by Motorola, we can give the county the $300,000 to purchase the radios”.

County Mayor Adcock said the new radio system is needed but how to pay for it is the question that remains to be answered.

“I think it is an important project. I think we are able to do it because of the $300,000 contribution 911 is offering to us. I believe we (county) could probably supply the other $46,000 out of our capital projects fund for the first year but it’s a matter for the budget committee to find out what our revenue source is going to be to continue those $346,000 payments for the remaining six years.”

“In our next meeting, we will either have to do a budget amendment to make up for the $46,000 with the contribution of $300,000 from 911 and accept the contract terms or they (county commission) will have to make a motion to have a special called meeting to make a decision before January 19,” said County Mayor Adcock.

Coffee County Sheriff Chad Partin, who was asked to come and address the DeKalb County commission Thursday night about his experience of transitioning to a new radio communication system there stressed the importance of making that move.

“Those (cost) numbers ($2.3 million) are big and scary. We were at a point just like you are with our analogue equipment and went through this same scenario,” said Partin. “I would have never thought then that in my lifetime I would have done a $2 million project for handheld and mobile radios but it’s a lifeline to an officer or firefighter in trouble and needing help or backup especially in a remote area. This is the most important device we carry on a daily basis other than our firearms. You have a device here and the technology that not only works on the spectrum of wireless but also on your computer network. I’m here tonight with a radio that’s working on cellular and not towers. I can key up from right here and talk back home and it can be heard clearly. I could be in Las Vegas, Moscow, or anywhere and its the same. That would not be the case with our old-style radios. It’s a program that works and one that will work well in DeKalb County. Don’t let these numbers scare you. Its expensive but you can’t put a price on your public safety responder’s lives,” said Partin.

Currently, TACN supports 58,000 local, state, and federal government users statewide. In the last year alone, over 30 additional agencies have made the decision to join TACN to experience the statewide communications interoperability.

December 22, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Tigers, who had beaten Sipsey Valley High 45 to 42 in the Adidas Shootout at Murfreesboro , went to Sparta Thursday where they faced York Institute and lost 65 to 48 in the Frank’s Christmas Shootout.

Today (Friday, December 22), the Tigers will return to Murfreesboro Riverdale where they will face Loretto at 2:30 p.m. in the Adidas Shootout.

In the game Thursday at Sparta, the Tigers trailed York Institute 14 to 13 after the 1st period, 35 to 26 at halftime, and 44 to 33 after the 3rd period before losing to the Dragons 65 to 48.

Seth Fuson led the Tigers in scoring with 12 followed by Jon Hendrix with 11, Alex Antoniak 9, Ian Colwell 6, Kaleb Spears 4, and Jordan Parker and Dallas Kirby each with 3.

DeKalb County is now 7-6 on the season.

December 22, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Lady Tigers finished their run in the Frank’s Christmas Shootout Thursday at 1-2 with a 60-37 loss to South Gibson at White County High School in Sparta.

The Lady Tigers began play in the shootout Tuesday with a 47-45 loss to York Institute before defeating Grace Christian 53 to 51 on Wednesday.

In the game, Thursday the DC girls trailed South Gibson 16 to 6 after the 1st period, 28 to 13 at halftime, and 47 to 30 after the 3rd period before losing 60 to 37.

Avery Agee led the team in scoring with 14 followed by Chloe VanVranken with 6, Allie Melton 5, Ella VanVranken and Tess Barton each with 4, Cam Branin 3 and MaKayla Scales with 1.

The Lady Tigers are now 7-7