Published Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Legislation needed for public safety radio system
The Newnan Times-Herald
A piece of local legislation introduced in the Georgia General Assembly is one of the last steps needed for Coweta County to begin the implementation of a new radio system for public safety.
Coweta is partnering with several other jurisdictions to create an 800 MHz system for public safety communications.
The systems are the latest technology, but are incredibly expensive. The partnership amongst the various members of the Western Area Regional Radio System allows considerable cost savings.
Coweta County voted to join the authority about a year ago.
Because the authority was created by an act of the legislature, it takes an act of the legislature to make any changes to it, said State Rep. Billy Horne, R-Sharpsburg, who is sponsoring House Bill 1225. State Rep. Lynn Smith, R-Newnan, and legislators from other members of the authority are co-sponsors of the bill.
Horne said he originally wanted to introduce legislation that would allow future members to join without an act of the legislature, as long as all the members agreed but "it would have been a bit too tedious," he said.
The other members of the authority, which was created in 2004, are Carroll County, Douglasville, Haralson County and Heard County.
In December, Coweta County performed "balloon tests" for a new radio tower that will be erected at the Temple Avenue Recreation Complex in Newnan.
A second tower will be built in Senoia, behind the ball fields at Leroy Johnson Park. Coweta radios will also use towers located in Franklin and Whitesburg.
Studies are continuing on the tower sites and "we expect those to be completed by April 30," said Patricia Palmer, Coweta's public affairs director.
"Once we get those approvals, and the local legislation is passed, then we will be able to hire companies to build the towers," Palmer said.
Funding for the 800 MHz system was included in the $20 million fire bond issuance approved by voters in 2008.
The system is being built for the Coweta County Fire Department. But Jay Jones, Coweta's emergency management director, said in December that he expects other agencies to come on board, eventually.
"They will have to decide how or when they want to come on board," Jones said of each agency. Once the system is operational, new agencies would just have to purchase new radios.
"This is something that has been needed, and has been talked about, in public safety for many years," Jones said in December.
