(JUNEAU) A consultant says public safety officers around Dodge County need a new portable radio system. Area fire and police leaders say the current VHF, or Very High Frequency system is too prone to static interference and spotty coverage.
“It’s got a lot of outside interference that’s beyond our control,” said Dean Hart, the owner of TUSA Consulting Services of Liberty, Missouri. “Lights, substations, a Hemi in a Dodge Charger. There’s a lot of outside interference things that can happen that you can’t control.
Hart is giving local public safety leaders four new options to consider. The one he recommends would be 700-800 MHz. The current VHF system is only 150 MHz. It would require building two new towers, for a total of nine towers placed strategically around Dodge County. The new system would cost $30 million to implement, and another $13 million to maintain for 20 years.
A special committee of public safety leaders will take Hart’s findings to the Dodge County Board in August.
