Agenda - 04-17-2012-13 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Additional Attachment for 4/17/12 BOCC Meeting Information Item DRAFT Emergency Services Workgroup Meeting Orange County, North Carolina Link Government Services Center Summary April 10, 2012 Commissioner Earl McKee called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM. Workgroup members in attendance: Commissioner Earl McKee, Commissioner Valerie Foushee, Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass, Assistant County Manager Michael Talbert, Chief F. R. Montes de Oca, Chief Dan Jones, Chief Mike Tapp, Chief Bryan Baker, Chief Matthew Mauzy, Chief Walter Horton, Chief Duane Hampton, MS Jane Cousins. • Summary notes of the March 27th meeting were read and approved with two corrections. • Commissioner McKee introduced Mike Hodgson, Manager of the VIPER system for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. He explained that VIPER-Voice Inoperability Plan for Emergency Responders-is the highway for emergency communications and is presently near the 65,000 user mark - its maximum. VIPER must migrate to the next level. VIPER is managed by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, but not the owner of 95% of the towers that cover the 44,000 square miles in North Carolina. With more groups joining and more radios being purchased, more towers must be added to the system to keep it current. North Carolina has the largest VIPER coverage in the nation second only to Michigan. Grant monies will be used to expand VIPER into the western part of North Carolina but not to add more towers in our area. In response to questions, Hodgson explained that 8 channels seem to be the best number for good and consistent coverage. In response to Chief Montes de Oca's question, a balanced system means there is the same number of channels per tower site within the subsystem to reduce busy signals. The way the system is designed and built, a total failure is rather difficult. Emergency generators will run three to four days when needed. Hodgson advised that purchasing a new tower or adding channels is a good investment because VIPER will provide all the necessary maintenance. Radios need to switch to the Omni link multi zone feature because of future changes. In response to questions regarding what/whose equipment is on the Eno Mountain tower, Mr. Hodgson stated that he does not have the answer. The equipment in question would have to be disconnected to see whose service was terminated.