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PURCHASE OF TRUNKING RADIO REPEATER SYSTEM Admin. Balczun reviewed the following memo: TO: Charles Balczun DATE: June 6, 1988 FILE: County Administrator SUBJECT: Agenda Item - Approval to Purchase Trunking Radio Repeater System FROM: Doug Wright, Director REFERENCES: Emergency Management Services It is requested that the information herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at the next regular meeting. DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners approved a Five Year Communications Plan on July 9, 1985. This action imple- mented the process of upgrading county communications to a trunking radio system. A majority of the County departments are now utilizing the new trunking radios which provides department autonomy as well as the capability to activate a common net to communicate with other agencies for interagency needs. One of the requirements of the trunking radio system is the use and operation of a repeater system. A fee of $9.00 per month per radio is charged for repeater access in the VHF spectrum. An additional fee of $45.00 is charged each month for those trunking radios' -that have a phone patch capability. Currently, Indian,•River County pays Communications of Vero $1,392 for repeater and RT circuit access. The entire trunking radio repeater system can be purchased. for a quoted price at $53,273.20 including installation. The quoted price includes all-new equipment as noted on attachment. Three additional county departments... have projected the purchase of twenty-two more 800 MHz trunking radios to increase the monthly access fee paid by the County to $1,950 per month in FY 88-89. If approved by the Board of County Commissioners, this would complete to a large' degree the five year communications plan prior adopted by the County. It appears the purchase of the trunking radio repeater system would be appropriate in terms of recurring monthly expenses over the long term. ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS The Indian.River County Board of County Commissioners approved funding in the FY 87-88 budget to purchase the trunking radio system through the Government Lease Program with payments over a seven year span. The significant increase in the number of radios has made the purchase of the system a high priority. At the current monthly rate of $1,950.00, the County could pay for the system in less than thirty months. After the system has been paid for, revenues generated would be used for other improvements in the County Communications system. 11 BOOK 73 rnuF, 35 II