Public Safety Radio Communications was Hot Topic at Lumpkin County Commissioner Work Session

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DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Lumpkin County commissioners and officials with the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office spent much of Tuesday’s work session in a discussion about how to provide public safety personnel with adequate radio service.

9-1-1 Communications Director Mike Stapleton said, “Our problem is when you get to the northern end of the county, there are no cell towers, no connectivity and no power. The terrain is beautiful, but it does not cooperate with our radios very well.”

Stapleton explained that the current VHF analog radio system has numerous dead spots throughout the county and continued use of the system could lead to parts failure and a loss of radio service that could put public safety workers in unnecessary danger.

His recommendation to commissioners is to purchase the system designed by Mobile Communications that will operate digital transmitters at the current Crown Mountain and Black Mountain Communications sites and to add receiving sites at Station 6 in the Nimblewill area, the new water tower near the intersection of Burnt Stand and Auraria and the Hester Valley area near Turner’s Corner. The system has a build out price of approximately $390,000 and comes with minimal recurring monthly costs. The plan leaves the existing analog system in place as a backup.

The system would not only facilitate improved communications among local public safety employees, but also with state agencies like the Georgia State Patrol and Department of Natural Resources.

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said, “This is the most economical way to have the best coverage. If we have a disaster anywhere in the county, and need to bring in outside resources, the old analog system will still monitor it but 99 out of 100 times, they will want to be on digital because the signal is so much better.”
The down side, Jarrard pointed out, is for those citizens who own scanners, those scanners will become obsolete.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the issue at the next regular meeting.

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