County looks into new radio system

Cost would be $4.9 million

BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s justices of the peace were briefed Tuesday on the cost of a radio system for the county.

The new system, replacing one about 15 years old, would cost almost $4.9 million. The county would buy 356 units for vehicles, 601 hand-held radios and 175 pagers. The Central Communications system would receive seven consoles. Other police and fire departments in the county would buy radios compatible with the county system.

Capt. Kenny Paul with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office briefed the Finance Committee on the need for the new radio system and the cost. The system would be used by the Sheriff’s Office and jail, Road Department, Emergency Management, many of the fire departments and other departments.

Paul said the old radio system has numerous areas where radio contact is a struggle.

“We’re not looking at this just because we want something new,” Paul said. “We’ve got a system now that’s 15-plus years old and we just can’t talk to anybody. This is something the county needs to move forward on, in my opinion.”

Benton County is also considering joining the communications network

established by the state, the Arkansas Wireless Information Network, Paul said. That system is used by the Arkansas State Police; the state Game and Fish Commission; the Arkansas Trauma System; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as local police and fire departments. In Northwest Arkansas, Fayetteville police and fire are already using the system while Rogers and Springdale are both working on joining the network. Siloam Springs is reportedly also considering shifting to the state system.

Justices of the peace had questions about some of the cost and the process used to choose a Motorola system. Paul said the cost in the proposal were based on state bids.

“We have looked at other providers but they can’t touch it for this price,” Paul said.

The justices of the peace also asked about the cost being passed on to the smaller cities whose police and fire departments will also have to buy radio equipment if the county switches. Sheriff Shawn Holloway said the county has talked to those entities about the changes.

“We are fully aware there are going to be some agencies this is potentially going to be a problem for,” Holloway said.

County Judge Barry Moehring said the county is planning to buy radios and pagers for the volunteer fire departments. The county will provide some radios to cities using fire apparatus bought by the county.

“The small-town police departments are expected to buy their own,” Moehring said.

Tom Allen, justice of the peace for District 4, said he wants to have more details and a specific funding plan for the Finance Committee to consider before making any recommendation.