December 20, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
The City of Smithville has taken the first step toward upgrading its radio communication technology for emergency services.
During a special called meeting Monday night, the aldermen voted unanimously to adopt a budget amendment ordinance on first reading in the amount of $115,000 to purchase a total of 25 Harris XL 400 Extreme fire rated portable radios for the Smithville Fire Department. The new digital radios are meant to keep firefighters safer with reliable communication while inside a burning building battling a fire.
According to the Harris website, these radios are National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) compliant and designed to keep firefighters connected anywhere, anytime on any network while performing under the harshest conditions.
City leaders said Harris portables are less expensive than other brands and by making the purchase now, the city is able to take advantage of a better price for them. To help the city with the cost, the DeKalb 911 Emergency Communications District is contributing a total of $25,000 or $1,000 per radio. With these incentives, the city’s total cost for the 25 new portable radios is $115,000.
Just as he has done with the county commission, Brad Mullinax, Director of the 911 Emergency Communications District, recommended to the city council that it begin making plans to update the city’s portable, mobile, and fixed base radio transmission technology by joining the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) which provides first responders the ability to have additional coverage to talk on the radio with surrounding state communication towers during major events and disasters.
“I recommended that they start transitioning to the digital network TACN because of the antiquated technology they and the county currently have,” said Mullinax. “Right now, the city is purchasing 25 new radios for the fire department, and by doing so it will make their firefighters safer when they go inside a burning building because they lack that communication ability with their current radios. Additionally, the city fire department will have improved communications with local, state, and federal agencies,” he said.
In addition to the fire department, the city will eventually have to upgrade the radio communication technology for the police department and complete the process for all its emergency services by acquiring new vehicle mobile radios and repeaters.
Although this not a city issue, Mullinax explained that through the Tennessee Department of Health, state funds are to be allocated to each county ambulance service in the state so that” every licensed ambulance in the state of Tennessee will receive its own radio at no charge to the county. They will also be putting radios in hospitals too at no charge to them,” he added.
Mullinax said he is glad to see the city take this first step in its radio communication technology upgrade.
“I think it’s a very wise decision by the city government. I think they are taking the necessary steps to improve communication in the city limits of Smithville and with other responders and taking a step toward keeping our first responders safer,” he concluded.