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1 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />Action Agenda <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Item No <br />Meeting Date: May 19, 1992 <br />SUBJECT: Emergency Communications Coverage Improvements <br />-------- w------------------- -- - -- <br />DEPARTMENT Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING YES NO X <br />wwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww .. w.r wiwwwwwwwwwwwwwww�.wwwwwwww wwwww <br />ATTACHMENT(S) INFORMATION CONTACT <br />Report from RF Projects Corporation Nick Waters, ext 3030 <br />(under separate cover) TELEPHONE NUMBER <br />Hillsborough 732 -8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968 -4501 <br />Mebane 227 -2031 <br />Durham 688 -7331 <br />PURPOSE: To receive a progress report on efforts to improve emergency <br />communications system coverage in orange County. <br />BACKGROUND: For a number of years, emergency service providers in <br />orange County have worked with a radio communications system that has <br />provided inadequate radio communications capabilities in some parts of <br />the County. Variations in topography between the emergency <br />communications transmitter on Eno Mountain and some locations has <br />resulted in a number of "dead spots" where communications <br />capabilities between emergency service units and Orange Central are <br />weak or non - existent. <br />The Board of Commissioners began setting aside funds in the CIP several <br />years ago to address this problem. Last summer, the County retained RF <br />Projects Corporation to study the problem and to provide <br />recommendations on options available to achieve satisfactory <br />communications capabilities throughout the County. A subcommittee of <br />the orange County Chiefs' Council, consisting of Chiefs Jerry Lloyd of <br />White Cross, Frank Berry of Cedar Grove, and Bryant Walker of Caldwell, <br />has worked with the consultant to provide preliminary recommendations <br />on possible solutions. <br />The attached report presents the preliminary findings for the Board's <br />information. Additional work remains to be completed in identifying <br />the exact locations for communications towers, to include compliance <br />with pertinent land use regulations, before consideration by the Board <br />of any bids on radio equipment and installation. Staff and several <br />volunteer department chiefs will be available to respond to any <br />Commissioner questions on this subject. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the <br />report for information only at this time. <br />