[Scan-DC] Somerset County PA

[Alan Henney]

The Daily American (Somerset, Pennsylvania)

November 7, 2015 Saturday

Positive reports coming in from users of new radio system

BYLINE: MICHELLE GANASSI michelleg at dailyamerican.com

SECTION: SOMERSET

LENGTH: 414 words

DATELINE: Somerset, PA 

Somerset County officials are ready for all fire, EMS and police agencies to use the new 800-megahertz radio system.

County Emergency Management Director Rick Lohr said all emergency service agencies will be using the system Nov. 16. 

Lohr said police agencies have started using the system and have coverage in areas that have been problematic in the past. Some fire departments have used the new system on calls.

"It will just be another day at work," Lohr said.

Somerset Borough police Chief Randy Cox said his department is pleased with the new system.

"There were a few bugs to work out during its implementation and certainly a learning curve, but the bottom line is the new system is an improvement in both operational and safety concerns," he said.

Cox said officers have noticed a general improvement in the quality of the transmissions and in the reception.

"There are still one or two trouble spots in the borough that have less to do with the new system and more to do with the structure of the buildings," Cox said. "We experienced the same problems on the old system."

Conemaugh Township police Chief Louis Barclay said the new system has helped in his area, especially in the township's "dead spots."

"It is a lot clearer and a lot of those dead spots are gone," he said.

Barclay said his officers seem to like the new system better than the old one.

In December 2013 the Somerset County commissioners approved a $9.2 million bond issue to pay for the new public safety radio system and two other capital projects. The total cost of the project is $8.2 million. About $6 million is for implementation and $2.2 million was used to purchase radios for local fire departments, ambulance services and police departments.

The county is part of a group that shares services such as the switch that operates part of the system. Lohr said sharing the switch saved the county more than $1 million initially.

If there is a problem with the switch or an issue in one of the other counties, Westmoreland, Indiana, Armstrong, Fayette and Lawrence, it will not impact communications in Somerset County.

There will be some interoperability issues with departments that respond in other counties, but Somerset County first responders will be able to talk with each other.

Lohr said that departments are keeping their old equipment, which can be used if necessary.

"Within our system we have backup control stations," he said.

A digital scanner is needed to listen to the county dispatches.