The Greene County Board of Supervisors are looking to make a needed upgrade to solve some issues for law enforcement.

Sheriff Jack Williams says about six years ago the state moved to a new communication system, which effectively shutdown their VHF channel to where local law enforcement could no longer communicate with state agencies. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio another issue is that once law enforcement or any other first responder leaves their in-vehicle radios that are equipped with the new system, their mobile radios are useless.

“We have no communication with anybody unless it’s using our cell phone which is hard to do when you’re fighting or trying to arrest somebody. And we do have the ability to switch back and forth from VHF to the new system but that takes time to do, and you have to take your eyes off of what you are doing to look at your radio to do the switching. So it’s made an unsafe environment for law enforcement, fire (department) and EMS.”  

The Greene County E-911 Service Board recently requested from the Supervisors to build a new 250 foot communication tower and purchase enough mobile radios for all fire department, ambulance services, conservation, law enforcement and any other county department. The E-911 Board suggested issuing a $3.8 million essential purpose bond to pay for the expense.  

The Supervisors approved at their most recent meeting a letter of engagement with Northland Securities for financing of the tower, which Director Heidi Kuhl defines what essential purpose means.

“The towers and radio equipment fall under the (state) code that is for essential county purpose, which means that those are essential items for the county that the Board can proceed with a simple hearing (and then a majority vote by the Board).” 

At their meeting on Monday, the Supervisors approved September 12th at 9am to possibly authorize a loan agreement and issuing not to exceed $3.8 million of bonds for a new tower and all the equipment for it and the mobile radios. However, the Board expressed looking at other options that could be cheaper such as using existing towers with Jefferson Telecom.