Earlier this year, a $12 million 911 system went live in Northumberland County, PA but now County Commissioners are poised to spend $5.2 million to fix and maintain the problematic system, reported The Daily Item.
The 911 plan, approved unanimously earlier this week, includes $3.1 million worth of equipment for three newly leased towers across the county and $2.1 million for bi-yearly upgrades over the next 10 years. According to Jason Ramsay of Motorola Solutions, the proposal will satisfy the desired 95 percent coverage rate for emergency services across the county.
Ramsay said he and his team spent the last six months talking to police officers and emergency personnel to identify the problems with the 911 system and formalize a solution. The key issues are in areas with a high density of buildings and population, he said.
Ralpho Township Police Chief Stu Appel has been outspoken about problems with the emergency communications system. He noted, “When they [Motorola Solutions] said they were in the area listening to us, they were. Hopefully, we are able to move forward and keep everybody on the street much safer.”
The new system will enhance communications for everyone, Ramsay said.
December 8, 2017
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