A $1.5 million project for a new radio system for first responders was announced last week in Kennebunkport, ME, according to the Portland Press Herald. The new system, along with two new towers, will include a replacement of all radios and related equipment in dispatch, all police, fire and emergency medical services, highway and wastewater vehicles (i.e., sewer cleaning trucks).
Two vendors, Motorola and 2-Way Communications, of Newington, NH, will supply two new 120-foot towers at Goose Rocks Beach Fire Station and at the wastewater treatment plant. A joint statement from the Fire Chief and Police Chief said the towers will be used in conjunction with a microwave link at the city’s water tower.
“We met to discuss issues with radios, lack of signal strength and out-of-date equipment that is no longer supported by the manufacturer,” Fire Chief Jim Everett said. “As a group, we discussed a system that the whole town would be able to use. The town has been working with a representative of, and has previously worked with both companies.
Envision Analysts of Manchester, NH has been retained to analyze the design and costs of the proposal and whether it could be expanded in the future. While Motorola will provide components for the VHF digital and analog system, 2-Way Communications will install equipment in all vehicles and tower sites, the Herald reported.
The town is financing the project with a $1 million bond approved by voters in 2021, and $500,000 from the capital reserve equipment to pay for the project. Motorola will receive $1.1 million of the funds and 2-Way will get $345,370.
Reader Interactions