Regional radio grid could save NK close to $10 million

With a proposal on the table, New Kent County supervisors have voted unanimously to look into a regional study for radio communication upgrades.

New Kent fire chief Rick Opett addressed the board during its April 16 work session concerning a proposal from York County. The proposal allows New Kent to join a radio communications grid with York, Gloucester, James City, and Williamsburg to provide better services for New Kent Fire/EMS, New Kent Sheriff’s Office, and New Kent public schools.

Opett presented the proposal because of talks during a previous work session about the need to replace radios and emergency communication services in the county. With knowledge that equipment now in use must be replaced in three years due to state mandates, the fire chief said the grid proposal gives the county a significant money-saving option over the next several years.

Supervisors in previous CIP plans estimated cost of mandated communications upgrades to total more than $16 million. Engaging in the grid agreement could save the county $10 million or more, Opett said

“The worst case scenario would be $6 million spent over the next five years,” said the fire chief.

A $2 million grant would be filed on behalf of New Kent by York County, provided New Kent agrees to participate in the grid, he said. The grant money is not included in the $6 million, thus the grant could further reduce the bottom line.

The $6 million figure would be reached if as many as three new communications towers have to be built in New Kent to accommodate the grid. If only one new tower is needed, cost to the county drops to $3 million, he said.

Other costs already added in would involve purchasing 250 general radios at $2,000 apiece ($500,000), 250 public safety radios at $4,000 apiece ($1 million), and supporting electrical equipment at a price tag of $650,000.

“Looking into this is a minimum risk,” the fire chief continued. “If we decide to go with them [York County], we’d cut 67 percent of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget, which is nearly $10 million.”

Current radio maintenance of $150,000 per year could be reduced to $90,000 if supervisors agree to the grid proposal, he added.

Currently, New Kent emergency services operate on an 800-megahertz system, which is considered outdated and unreliable according to Opett. The proposal would transfer communications to a 700-800 analog/digital megahertz system, currently used by most localities in the central Virginia and Tidewater areas.

If supervisors agree to join the grid, each of the aforementioned jurisdictions could back up one another in the event of a grid tower or E911 services disconnect due to power failures or natural disasters.

“New Kent County is a key part for Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM),” Opett said. “If we go forth, we would be a bridge between central Virginia and the Tidewater area [for emergency communication services].”

After learning that no immediate commitment is necessary from the county to adopt the proposal, board members voted 5-0 to conduct a feasibility study.