Wednesday, June 4. 2008 --- 5:30 pm

Dane County disaster preparedness gets a 30-million dollar boost!

The county's investing in a new radio system, designed to improve communication between first responders -- when a number of agencies work a scene.

The price tag is $34 million. But the county executive says September 11th as well as a number of events closer to home illustrate why this technology is necessary.

"The example I think I remember best was a fire chief frustrated that he couldn't communicate with a snow plow operator even though it was only 100 feet away," Kathleen Falk says.
February's interstate backup stranded nearly two-thousand drivers for hours. A tornado in Stoughton in 2005 damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes -- two very different events, but both required a number of agencies to respond, which is why county leaders plan to invest 34-million dollars in emergency communications.
"We have fashioned a hybrid system so that all 60 communities in Dane County can communicate with each other," Falk says.
County executive Falk says Dane County is funding the infrastructure to allow multiple agencies to work better -- together -- during an emergency.
"Fire can talk to fire, EMS can talk to EMS... but if something big goes on, fire being able to effectively talk to law enforcement... whether that's state patrol or a local constable ... that doesn't exist today," Fitchburg Fire Chief Randall Pickering says.
The 34-million dollar price tag is the 2nd-largest capital construction project in Dane County history.
"In any of these emergencies, all of us should be able to talk together ... which will save time, save lives and save money," Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney says.
First responders within the county will need to upgrade their squad car and portable radios to be compatible with the new system... but will have several years to do it.
"I budget for my end user equipment, but I'm also communicating with other public safety entities to ensure that they're going to follow through to obtain the equipment they need to make their component usable," Mahoney says.
The system is expected to be complete in a couple of years...with proposals for building it being accepted until mid-September. The county executive says she has included it in the capital budget plan the last couple of years but the county will borrow through 2010 to fund it. The largest capital expense is the new courthouse.

According to a news release:

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced today the county is moving forward with construction of a brand-new emergency radio system that will improve and expand the ability of emergency responders to communicate with one another. The $34 million project will be the second largest capital budget expense in Dane County history.

Falk made the announcement at a news conference flanked by Sheriff Dave Mahoney and representatives of Dane County fire and emergency medical service (EMS) departments.

“This new system means our firefighters, police officers and deputies, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), snow plow operators, and even our school officials will be able to talk with one another with the flip of a switch,” Falk said. “Our front line responders told us this high-tech radio system is what they needed and we’re committed to building it.”

The county has contracted with consultants since 2006 at a cost of nearly $210,000 to work with law enforcement, fire, EMS agencies, and the 911 Center to develop blueprints for a countywide emergency radio communications network that best meets the needs of all responders. On Wednesday the county issued a $30-million request for purchase (RFP) to select the best contractor to build this new interoperable network. Interested contractors will have until September 11th, 2008 to submit proposals. The $30-million will pay for infrastructure and transmission equipment needed for the project.

“With 1200 square miles including the Wisconsin River, the isthmus, and our picturesque valleys and bluffs, Dane County’s unique combination of urban and rural areas present unique challenges for radio communications. This unique, new emergency radio network will help our county’s 62 towns, villages, and cities along with state and University agencies to continue to offer the public safety services citizens deserve,” Falk said.

“The ability of frontline responders to be able to effectively communicate with each other was one of the lessons learned from the horrific terror attacks of September 11, 2001. In Dane County, we saw this need firsthand in the 2005 Stoughton-area tornado and again with the state-led response to this February’s back-up on the interstate,” Falk added.

Construction of the new radio system is expected to occur within the next 24 months. Law enforcement, fire, EMS, public works, and other public service agencies will be subsequently integrated into the network.