HomeMy WebLinkAboutE911Minutes_2011_07_21East Central Communications Council Meeting
City Hall Meeting Room
Thursday, July 21, 2011
8:30am
Board members present: Alan Gregg (County Commission), Jael Thorpe (City Council),
and Jackie Lanning (Acting City Manager).
Others present: Todd Struwe (Emergency Mgmt.), Jeff Miller (BPD), Darrell Hartmann (Fire
Dept), Harlen Feldus, Chris Elberts, Dave Jacobson, and Darrel and Tracy Kleinjan.
Members Absent: Deanna Santema (County Commission) Mark Stratton (Communications),
Bob Hill, and Marty Stanwick (SO).
Call to order: Meeting was called to order by Gregg. Thorpe/Lanning moved to approve
the minutes of the May meeting. All present voted aye. Motion approved.
Addition to the Agenda: None
Bills: Jeff Miller reviewed non-recurring bills. Lanning/ Thorpe moved to approve non
recurring bills. All present voted aye. Motion approved.
Old Business:
Update on narrow banding: Miller has visited with Sioux Falls Two Way and the FCC. The
FCC stated we have to redesignate our admittance with our license. The changes will be for
the Police Department, Sherriff’s office, and Fire Department; the county is not ready for the
changes. The narrow banding for the police department is budgeted for this year; estimated
cost of $25 per radio. If the change in the Homeland Security grant for 2010 gets approved
next month, Hartmann asked if the county fire departments will be ready to narrow band;
Volga is ready, Bruce is not, and most of Sinai’s radios are compatible. Hartman stated all
radios have to be compatible and of the same frequency before going to narrow band. Miller
clarified any radio purchased in the last eight years is compatible. Most departments have
submitted their radio lists to Hartman/Bolzer. Miller stated Sioux Falls Two-Way will be
starting the process next week and the deadline for narrow banding is 2013. Hartman stated
dispatch is a computer based system and needs to switch to narrow band too.
Discussion of Bruce Fire Department radio communication. Miller was contacted by Harlen
Feldus with the Bruce Fire Department. Feldus stated when a page is toned out, only half
receive the page, if they get the page, they have difficulty transmitting back to dispatch. It
appears anything west or south of Sinai and within the Bruce Fire Hall there is no service, and
end up communicating via cell phones. Struwe asked if they can communicate on mobile radios;
yes, but not on the portable radios. Signal studies have been done, but have not seen any
solutions from the outcome. Feldus had received a quote from Vantec for $900/year for tower
rent, and repeater. Miller asked how powerful that would be; 50 watt. Miller stated there have
been repeater problems in the PD building and have called Sioux Falls Two-Way. They may be
moving their repeater and antenna to the water tower. Sioux Falls Two-Way feels a 100 watt
repeater would solve the problem. Feldus asked about moving the county repeater to a new
location. Struwe suggested moving it east or west in the county, as Sinai, Elkton and White are
having similar problems. Gregg asked how tall the current tower is: 200 feet. Struwe asked if
Sioux Falls Two-Way could check the current repeater and tower signal. Jacobson asked if
Sioux Falls Two-Way handles most of the city communication and if there is any advantage
going with Vantec. Miller suggested contacting Sioux Falls Two-Way, have a study done for all
areas, and meet with the individual departments to outline the problems they are experiencing.
Struwe stated that would be the long term goal but we need to have a short term goal as well.
He suggested having Sioux Falls Two-Way evaluate the system and make sure everything is
operational. Thorpe asked who is responsible to pay for this study. Miller commented they are
trying to hold some revenue back for some major purchases coming in the next couple of years
and are not on track for anything major at this time. Gregg asked what can be done to set
aside for financing a study. Miller doesn’t think it will be a great amount. Thorpe/Lanning made
the motion to contract with Sioux Falls Two-Way to conduct a county-wide study for Fire
Radio coverage.
New Business: None
Member Reports
Miller stated the Higher Ground System is in and works well.
♦ Next meeting: January 19, 2012 at 8:30am
♦ Regular quarterly meetings are held in January, April, July, and October on
the 3rd Thursday of the month. Discussion of the budget is held in May.
Adjourn
Submitted by Chris Larson