By: Michael R. Smith
A St. Charles County leader says that by shifting some tasks to another vendor the county may save a substantial part of a potential $486,170 contract the County Council authorized in July.
The council instructed Director of Administration Chuck Gross to spend up to that amount to evaluate locations for a new space for the county?s information technology offices, as well as for communications towers the county must have to unite area emergency departments.
Gross said that a proposed contract with the consulting firm Ross & Baruzzini, of Kirkwood, largely includes help in finding a new spot for the county?s information systems offices. The current location in the county?s administration building no longer has sufficient space or power for departmental needs.
However, the contract also included an option to spend $126,000 with a consulting firm to recommend locations for 15 communications towers in the area that are necessary to unite offices of local first responders. The towers need to operational by Jan. 1, 2014.
Gross said that the contract is still to be signed because Motorola ? the county?s current vendor for radio services ? is building a new radio data system for the government and as part of that work may be able to help officials locate the towers, savings the funds in the proposed Ross & Barruzini contract.
Recent federal changes in the availability of radio communications frequencies mean local governments across the country must re-evaluate their emergency communications needs.St. Charles County is using that opportunity, Gross said, to require all law enforcement, fire department, ambulance, and public works offices to unite their systems into a county-wide network.
?I think it?s a good idea. It makes sense,? said Lake Saint Louis Mayor Mike Potter, despite LSL being identified as a city where a 300-foot to 400-foot tall tower will be installed. In a previous report, MRN had incorrectly reported the tower would be 3,400 feet tall. It regrets the error.
Using existing towers and building new ones, however, requires precise calculation to provide effective service, Gross said. Complicating the process of locating the antennas is the need to work with multiple local governmental bodies and property owners.
When a change is made to one tower location, Gross said, it creates a ?domino effect? throughout the network planning.
He remains undaunted with the fairly short timeline he has for implementation. ?One way or another we?ll get the towers up,? Gross said.
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Source: http://www.newsmagazinenetwork.com/2012083023466/county-may-save-on-communications-needs/
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