By Ronnie Moore, staff writer
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
Copyright 2006 Chattanooga Publishing Company
RINGGOLD, Ga. — Catoosa County could have improved emergency communications and save money if agreement is reached to use the Chattanooga/Hamilton County 800 megahertz radio system, Catoosa Sheriff Phil Summers said.
“Nothing will change in terms of who performs dispatching and communications duties for police or fire,” he said.
He told the Catoosa County Commission he hopes the system could be in place by Jan. 1.
“We will have the added ability to communicate with our neighbors in Chattanooga and Hamilton County,” he said, helping to eliminate confusion and improve efficiency.
Sheriff Summers got approval from commissioners to continue talks with Chattanooga and Hamilton County officials.
County Attorney Skip Patty said there is “not a binding contract unless approved by the commission,” but the discussions are an attempt to see if an agreement can be reached with their Tennessee counterparts.
“Catoosa voters approved $1.2 million toward an improved communications system, but building a system from scratch would require seven new towers and cost $3.5 million,” Mr. Summers said.
He said his officers have used the individually carried units from the Tennessee agencies’ 800 MHz system and found 80 percent coverage in Catoosa County.
“The addition of one or two towers should give us full coverage and that, in turn, should improve the existing system for their use,” the sheriff said.
Currently, there are “dead areas” near Taylor Ridge, portions of Keith and off Mount Pisgah Road.
Mr. Summers said upgrading individual radio units carried by police and ambulances and adding one or two transmission towers could be done with the $1.2 million in special purpose sales tax funds and would help the county meet federal standards.
Commissioner James Emberson asked, “What are the financial differences, assuming we have options?”
Mr. Summers said, “I see it as a big savings for Catoosa County. We are now using a very high frequency, or VHF, repeater system that has been in use for 30 years. The yearly expense to join the existing 800 system will be $50,000, but a new system requiring seven towers will require $70,000 annually.”
He called connection to the 800 MHz system “desperately needed.”
Mr. Summers said the Catoosa 911 center equipment can be modified to work off the 800 MHz system based in Hamilton County.
“When government money becomes available we can build our own system in the future,” he said.
Mr. Summers said Catoosa is fortunate because the Chattanooga/Hamilton County system is only at 60 percent capacity, with more than adequate remaining capacity.
“We realize that Chattanooga and Hamilton County are our lifeline when large emergencies confront us,” he said. “There is an acute need to communicate directly on the same system.”
Mr. Summers said Catoosa County will have its own frequency and the ability to communicate within its departments.