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APPROVED 1/24/2012 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> WORK SESSION <br /> November 17, 2011 <br /> 7:OOpm <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners for a Work Session on Thursday, November 17, <br /> 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center, in Chapel Hill, N.C. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Bernadette Pelissier and Commissioners <br /> Valerie Foushee, Alice M. Gordon, Barry Jacobs, Pam Hemminger, Earl McKee, and Steve <br /> Yuhasz <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Frank Clifton, Interim Assistant County Manager <br /> Michael Talbert and Clerk to the Board Donna S. Baker (All other staff inembers will be <br /> identified appropriately below) <br /> Chair Pelissier said that this material was prepared in response to the previous work <br /> session regarding Emergency Services. <br /> Emergency Services Coverage, Capacity and System Improvements <br /> 1. Review of the VIPER (Voice Interoperabilitv Plan for Emerpencv Responders) <br /> Oriqinal Desiqn and Implementation and Strateqies to Improve Coveraqe and Capacitv <br /> Frank Clifton said that this is a follow-up to a work session with fire chiefs in September. <br /> He said that every one of these elements is important <br /> Michael Talbert said that he, Emergency Services Director Frank Montes de Oca, and <br /> Planning Director Craig Benedict will be assisting with the presentation tonight. There was also <br /> Emergency Services staff present to help- Craig Blackwood, 911 Communications Center <br /> Manager Dinah Jeffries, EMS Operations Manager Kim Woodward, Emergency Management <br /> Coordinator Darshan Patel, and technical support staff Kevin Medlin. <br /> Michael Talbert said that Orange County Emergency Services as it is currently <br /> structured has only been in business for six to seven years. He said that the Board will be <br /> getting the final report at some time in the near future. <br /> Michael Talbert went through the VIPER system. This is a statewide system that is <br /> shared with other entities. This is an 800 mHz system. Alamance County will soon be coming <br /> on the system and is looking at building a tower in the Mebane area. This will have impacts on <br /> Orange County's system and will provide more resources. He made reference to page 11 of 43 <br /> and the list of tower sites. The system has been built to the State's specifications and has been <br /> built out as suggested. The problem with the build out is that it does not provide perfect <br /> coverage throughout the County. Orange County needs at least two or three more towers to <br /> get coverage. <br /> Another issue with VIPER is capacity. This relates to the number of channels per tower <br /> and the number of people needing to talk at one time. There is also an issue of reception� <br /> inside of buildings. This can be hazardous for firefighters. The towers will have ta be evaluated <br /> for this capacity issue. This is a less expensive option than towers. Rough estima�tes �re about <br /> $30,000 per channel. <br />