JEFFERSON — Sheriff William Johnson clarified for village mayors, several police chiefs and council members at a joint meeting Wednesday the need and costs of the Multi-Agency Radio Communication System his department is switching to in November.
Johnson said the bottom line for the sheriff’s office switching to the MARCS equipment is “officers’ safety” all over the county. MARCS is a statewide communication system used by many agencies, he said.
County commissioners arranged the meeting for officials from Andover, Orwell, Roaming Shores, Jefferson, Rock Creek and Geneva-on-the-Lake to discuss costs and be better informed.
Commissioners in early August approved the $187,000 purchase. The commissioners are leasing it over seven years at 5.26 percent interest, Johnson said.
“The MARCS is not a new system. We had looked at what Lake County did several years ago. It would have cost us $2.5 million at the time. The state is now offering police agencies to join them,” he said.
When state officials offered MARCS equipment at the lower prices, Johnson urged commissioners to join in. The five village police departments dispatched through his office do not have to invest a lot to get started, the sheriff said.
“We had to look at what’s best for the whole county. The villages can come aboard now or we can still dispatch for your police on the old equipment,” Johnson said.
The sheriff bluntly told the village officials the present three towers, in Cherry Valley, Plymouth Township and Andover, could break down any time. Parts are getting harder to replace.
Commissioners were criticized by Orwell Mayor Larry Bottoms. He complained that more direct talks should have taken place with village officials earlier this year. Bottoms worried that his village is stretched financially to pay for the equipment before 2009.
Johnson said the county’s first lease payment is not due until nearly the end of 2009.
“We did not go back directly to the village mayors. I’ll take the blame for that,” said Commissioner Dan Claypool, referring to the board’s decision to quickly move ahead in August.
Johnson said his offer to lower the $20,000 dispatch fee by $5,000 in 2009 still stands. It was done in an effort to help the villages purchase their initial equipment, he explained.
The county is leasing the MARCS equipment at state purchase prices through Motorola Credit Corp. of Schamberg, Ill. Each village can do the same deal if it wishes, Johnson said, or go with a private bank loan.
Johnson said many times his deputies and other safety personnel find their radios don’t work in certain parts of the county. Southern sectors are the worst with dead spots.
As to the dispatch fee discount for 2009, Johnson also agreed to shave another $5,000 off the dispatching fees for the fourth quarter this year. Those villages which already paid would get a rebate, he said.
“None of this is being jammed down your throats. Trumbull County and Geneva could dispatch for you. It would probably be more than you are paying now,” Johnson said.
Andover Police Chief Randy Gentry said all the villages’ police chiefs have met and gave all the financial data several months ago to their individual councils. He favored the villages going with a joint application for grants next year to save money.
The villages could spend about $10,000 to buy two MARCS base radios and two repeater units to get started, Johnson said.
Local News
Sheriff meets with villages on radio system costs
- Local News
-
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
The Buckeye Local Board of Education will conduct interviews with six superintendent hopefuls next week, said Board President Jacqueline Hillyer.
-
Shooting suspect to be tried as adult
A 17-year-old will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday after hearing a sheriff’s deputy describe how the teen wore a T-shirt with the word “Killer” and admitted shooting people.
-
Ohio EPA takes AIM at site of hazardous wastes
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency staff members returned this week to the site of the now-bankrupt Ashtabula Iron and Metal on West 30th Street to take samples of the unknown liquids and analyze hazardous wastes, asbestos and other potential health and environmental concerns.
-
Commissioners look at selling nursing beds
Commissioners have retained the services of a law firm that specializes in the sale of excess nursing home beds as the board looks at ways to raise additional revenues.
-
Conneaut looks at demolition funds
The city is making preparations to secure its share of nearly $692,000 in demolition funds expected to be Ashtabula County’s portion of a multi-billion dollar settlement with national mortgage lenders.
-
Volunteers get more help than needed at rescue spot
Despite their good intentions, Edward and Mary proved more hindrance than help to the Conneaut KeyBank employees lending a helping hand Thursday to a farm animal rescue operation in Kingsville Township.
-
220 graduate at Lakeside
Thursday night was a time of pomp, circumstance and smiles as 220 seniors graduated from Lakeside High School.
-
Lost money?
There is no map, and “X” may not mark the spot, but hundreds of Ashtabula County residents may have unclaimed cash ready and waiting for them through the Ohio Department of Commerce.
-
Lane to be tried as adult in Chardon High shooting
A 17-year-old boy will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday.
-
Happy Hearts School holds commencement for its Class of 2012
As commencement exercises go in Ashtabula County, the one at Happy Hearts School was small, with just five students.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
