“Because of our location in the state, we’re the highest point in Ohio,” Standley said. “We began getting interference, unexpected interference, from different areas.”
“We’ve changed frequencies a couple times and as we’ve done that we’ve grown more frustrated that it hasn’t taken away that interference that we get occasionally,” he said.
Changes the city has made to the current radio system over the past few years have “at best marginally improved it if at all,” Service Safety Director Jim Holycross said.
Sometimes officers can’t understand radio messages from dispatchers, Standley said.
“You may have three, four times a shift where you’ll hear something come across the radio, and you’re just not sure what that person said,” Standley said.
Standley wants to make sure officers receive information from dispatchers as quickly as possible.
“When that interference happens, no, that’s not where we want people to be,” he said. “And we’re better than that.”
Standley, Fire Chief Andy Fissel and city leaders are in agreement that a new system is needed, he said.
“With our jobs being first responders, we need that be almost as perfect as it can be,” he said.
The new MARCS radio system will cost about $175,000 for the police department and nearly $50,000 for the fire department, Holycross said.
“It’s just really a matter of being able to fund the project,” he said.
The fire department has applied for a $34,000 grant for the new system, he said, and is expected to learn if the application is approved by next week.
The police department is also seeking a grant to cover the cost of 34 new portable and 16 vehicle units, Standley said. It may apply for the funds with other local agencies, he said.
“We want our people to have the best, and when you fall short of that best you feel like we need to do better,” he said.
Standley expects to learn if the department will receive the grant by May, he said.
“If we’re denied, I’m going to have to go back and speak to council here and try to figure out a game plan that makes sense,” he said.
The city may have to purchase the new equipment in phases, Holycross said, should grants be denied.
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