(WBRE/WYOU-TV) Luzerne County 911 is upgrading its radio system. It will improve communications with the center and first responders- especially those responders in remote areas of the county. The I-Team’s Andy Mehalshick has the story
“It really comes down to public safety,” said Luzerne County Manager Dave Pedri. And that’s the bottom-line. So say Luzerne County officials. The current radio dispatch system–which uses what’s called an analog system is more than 20 years old and must be replaced with a digital system.
Hazleton Fire Chief Don Leshko says the analog system must go. “Right now in the southern part of the county and different parts of the county, we operate on one frequency in the southern end. If we are working on a fire call on the southern frequency that means if a major fire happens anywhere in the southern part of the county all departments are using that frequency.”
And that the chief says poses a safety risk to the public.
Fred Rosencrans is the director of Luzerne County 9-1-1. He says the digital system will reduce if not eliminate those safety concerns. “It’s more efficient use of the spectrum the frequencies throughout the system and also the signal is a lot different. We will be able to do a lot more with talk groups basically once channel will become four now.”
The new system will cost anywhere from $15 million to $20 million dollars money that the county simply does not have.
“We’ve hired a consultant and we’re looking under every rock to try and find money for this we are applying for grants” Said Dave Pedri, Luzerne County Manager
The county will put out bids for the new system soon.
