In August, voters in Battle Creek, MI (aka “Cereal City”) approved a measure to allow for additional funding for countywide emergency services, reports the Battle Creek Enquirer. The millage, a type of property tax, is expected to generate yearly funds of approximately $3.9 million to pay for the new equipment.
“This proposal addresses the current communications challenges facing the 911 communication ecosystem in Calhoun County,” stated Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority (CCCDA) Executive Director Michael Armitage in a press release. “With the voters’ approval in August, we are taking the first steps to improve communications between emergency agencies and dispatch, which will lead to safer conditions for all residents.”
Motorola will receive a large portion of the funding to add four more cell towers to its CCCDA simulcast system. The authority also intends to purchase 413 portable radios, 167 mobile radios and 400 pagers for emergency responders.
The improvement in communication technology also includes plans to install ten control stations within the public safety agencies. New Motorola software will also allow devices to be updated through a WiFi connection, according to the Enquirer.
The $14.5 million agreement with Motorola involves a ten-year contract and is part of an ongoing CCCDA plan to improve infrastructure and communications throughout the county.
Reader Interactions