|
Hold Decision on 800 MHz Communication
Posted 5-10-1999
One of the hottest issues facing Westmoreland County government during 1999
is the implementation of a new 800 megahertz radio system for emergency
management communications. While I certainly believe the implementation of
this new technology is inevitable, I am concerned that county government is
pushing this project through too quickly.
The main reason I believe
that we must slow the process down is I have not met a volunteer fire
company that is not greatly concerned about how they will pay for new
radios. Most volunteer fire companies are struggling to raise the money
necessary to just operate and acquire the bare necessities of fire fighting.
More and more fire companies are seeing a reduction in the number of
volunteers, rising operating costs, and the demands for raising funds are
always increasing. If they are not supported, and paid fire service becomes
commonplace, we will all pay higher taxes. I believe it is critical that we
maintain the support of fire, EMS, and police as we implement this new
system.
I don't think the county did
a good job of researching potential funding, nor do I think we've worked
hard enough with our state and federal officials to see if grant money is
available to defer the costs of radios and even for our own equipment. We
must demonstrate to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that we are
using the system by 2001.
But requesting another
extension may also be possible. I think time is available for us to do more
homework, then we can be better prepared to assist the county's volunteer
services and resolve many outstanding technical issues before we take
action.
Westmoreland County
government has a history of rushing into major investments and then having
to take remedial action. Our prison, built in the early 1990's originally
was expected to cost $18 million but eventually cost $32 million. Our 911
Center, also built in the early 1990's cost millions and now we find out it
was built on the same power and telephone grid as the Courthouse. If our
power or phones go out so would the 911 Center's. Now we are looking at
spending several million dollars to relocate the Center to property we own
in Hempfield Township.
The vendors we have asked to
bid on the 800 MHz radio system have asked for an extension before bidding.
Their bids aren't likely to come until late June. We will likely need
several months to evaluate the bids and possibly re-engineer the proposals
to more accurately fit our needs. So it is likely to be late September
before just the technical end of the project is presented to us. That does
not take into account the technical questions users of the system have
raised. I believe we need to address these questions more thoroughly also.
With a new Board of
Commissioners taking office in January and facing many major fiscal
decisions, I believe it is only fair to let them identify a strategy for
paying for the 800 MHz project. Unless my colleagues want a certain
investment banking firm to handle the issuance of more debt, I do not know
why this project cannot be implemented more slowly. In the meantime, we must
begin a sincere effort to find the resources necessary to help the
volunteers that protect us and the municipal governments affected by this
change. |
