5.2. SR 01-05-1998ITEM 5.2.
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FROM:
MEMORANDUM
Pat Klaers, City Administrator
Mayor, and City Council
Bruce A. West
Fire Chief
DATE:
SUBJECT:
January 5, 1998
Purchase of Radio System for
Emergency Operations Center
In the 1998 budget, under equipment reserve, is a hne item for the upgrading
of the Emergency Operations Center which will entail the purchase of an
additional radio system. The need for this additional radio system was very
evident during the July 1, 1997, storm. Currently, in the Emergency
Operations Center,(EOC), their is a radio system for the Pohce Department
that has two channels for their use. The Pubhc Works Utilities, Congregate
Care, and Fire Department currently use the local government channel for
their communication needs in the EOC.
During the evening of the storm the radio communications for the Fire
Department, Utilities, and Pubhc Works became a cluttered nightmare due
to all 3 departments using one radio channel. To resolve this issue, I
proposed to the city administrator and assistant city administrator to add a
separate radio base system for the Fire Department's use. This will enable
the Fire Department to have access to numerous radio channels for
communication throughout Sherburne, Anoka, Wright, and Hennepin
Counties along with a state wide fire mutual aid channel.
Another area that needed to be addressed in the EOC's radio system was a
problem of '%leed over" of radio communications. This was caused by the
frequencies being to close together in the frequency band which caused a cut
out of communication. To resolve this issue, filtering of the frequencies are
necessary to keep the communications clear and operable for all responders
in the EOC.
At this time I have received bids for the upgrade of the radio system for the
Emergency Operations Center. I am asking for the mayor and council to
accept the bid by Innovative Electronics Solutions, located in Becket,
Minnesota, for the base radio system, filtering, transmission line, mounting
hardware, and labor to install the necessary equipment for $7,994.36.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
With the upgrading of the EOC and the purchasing of a radio system, the
communications to the necessary responders both in the field and in the EOC
will be significantly improved. If you have any questions in reference to this
issue, please feel free to call me at the Elk River Fire Department, 441-4919.
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