Brown County Commissioners approved using funds from the Homeland Security Grant for radio reprogramming and installation by SWB Services, Inc of Early.
According to Brown County Emergency Management Director Brent Bush, narrow band radios purchased and received by the county in July were initially programmed and compatible with the current radios, radio system and frequencies used by emergency responders in Brown County. These radios were purchased through the Homeland Security Grant and must be programmed to narrow band frequencies as of January 1, 2013, said Bush. Due to that fact, all currently installed radios and any that are to be installed in the future must be reprogrammed from the current broadband settings to the new narrow band settings.
The purchase of the radios were completed in July at a cost of nearly $80,000, using these grant funds. An estimate for the installation was given by SWB Services, Inc. of Early and another estimate was verbally received from LAN Communications of Clyde. According to Bush, SWB’s estimate totaled 13,080.00, which was less than the $150-190/radio installation charge that was estimated by LAN and an added $244 travel expense each trip required to install all of the radios.
Another factor in the court’s decision to use the grant funds was the speed in which the radios could be reprogrammed and installed. With the traveling time and the limited number of radios that could be installed each trip (6-8), it was a concern that LAN might not be able to meet the required January 1 deadline for installation.In other matters on Monday’s agenda:
*Brown County remains in a burn ban due to no action being taken by commissioners regarding the burn ban.
*Commissioners granted approval to Richard Gist, commissioner Precinct 3, to purchase millings from the TxDOT construction project on Hwy 183, not to exceed an amount of $40,000. These millings will be used in county road paving. According to Gist, the millings will cost $175-200/truckload which includes deliver to the precinct barns and that there will be approximately 170-180 loads available.
*Commissioner Gist also received approval for two part time employees to move to full time positions, at the beginning county salary. These employees are Orbin Purcell and Jeremy Lynn, who are currently working for the precinct, however, their added hours will replace a fulltime vacancy which was never filled approximately 2 years ago.
*County Treasurer Ann Krpoun received approval to keep the County Investment Policy the same as last year with continued service through TexasBank. She also received approval for a new copier lease, which will provide a better copier that collates at a cost of $119/month rather than the older obsolete model which ran $124/month.
*Commissioner Larry Traweek of Precinct 4 received approval to purchase a heavy duty Tiger utility trailer by trading in the current light duty Tiger trailer for $650, which leaves a total remaining cost of $2850. The trailer will be purchased from Sanderson Trailer Sales according to Traweek.
