10-4: Deadline looms for radio change

With federal regulations requiring replacement of public safety radio systems, Crow Wing County is faced with a deadline decision.

Tuesday commissioners were asked to adopt a public safety communication plan for the county. By 2013, the Federal Communications Commission requires replacement of the wideband Land Mobile Radio systems operating in VHF and UHF. Law enforcement, ambulance, fire and emergency responders and public works throughout the nation use the wideband LMR.

As of 2013, the radio system the county now uses will no longer be available. One of the replacement options is an Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response known as ARMER.

Sheriff's Capt. Neal Gaalswyk told commissioners the VHF system was developed after World War II and the ARMER system will have a lot of infrastructure costs taken on by the state. There will still be county costs. Gaalswyk said costs on the high end could be $5.2 million or $4.2 million on the low end with the county as the funding agency for the system.

Gaalswyk said one concept is to split the cost into thirds between a levy, bonds and grant dollars.

Commissioner Paul Thiede expressed concerns about the lack of options, noting there are still unknowns about what may be the best alternative. But choosing an alternative that did not allow communication with the state or neighboring counties was also a concern.

"Getting it done in one wave is the real key here and trying to keep it all together in the interests of public safety and officer safety as well," Sheriff Todd Dahl said.

Law enforcement and fire officials from neighboring cities in the county filled nearly two back rows of the gallery at the county's meeting. There were a few chuckles when Thiede said with all the departments represented he was surprised they weren't suggesting they could chip in to pay the cost.

The board approved a development of a plan and proposed budget for the ARMER system.

In other business, the board:

Approved a sheriff's department employee leave for the rest of 2009 and all of 2010, which is expected to save $35,000 this year and $91,000 for 2010.

The employee requested the leave and the county felt it would gain from saving the wages and not filling the position in the interim.

Set the public hearing to approve recommended 2009 Crow Wing County fee changes to 9:30 a.m. July 28.

Requested state funds of $11.1 million for right-of-way acquisition and design for reconstruction of Highway 371 between Nisswa and Jenkins. The project is expected to include utility improvements and local street work in Nisswa, Pequot Lakes and Jenkins. There is a 50 percent match required and Lyndon Robjent, highway engineer, said the intent is to use federal High Priority Project funds of $12,440,000 the county expects to receive as the match.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation plan is to reconstruct the highway in two phases, Nisswa to Jenkins in 2018 and then Jenkins to Pine River following with a total cost of $126 million.

Considered entering an agreement with Consolidated Telecommunications Co. to construct an agreement to extend high-speed fiber optic cable to the highway department near the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport if funding partners are found. Cost is expected to be $110,000 to $117,000. Robjent said the system would pay for itself by 2018. In addition, $20,000 was identified for the project from the solid waste fund.

Met as the Board of Equalization with commissioners seeking answers from Assessor Marty Schmidt regarding particular property appeals.

The session bogged down as there was confusion about identifying the people and parcels to the paperwork provided by the assessor's office. The paper report followed a state Department of Revenue form, but didn't match the order in which the appeals were originally heard by the commissioners. They noted it was difficult to track whether questions raised were researched and answered as commissioners earlier requested.

After a smooth recent Saturday session to meet with residents who had concerns about assessments, commissioners suggested changes in the reporting to improve the follow-up session.

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.