The local 911 network fielded just shy of 53,000 phone calls last year split between law enforcement, fire services and emergency medical services. The current system was installed in 2001 and is due for a replacement, according to county officials.
“It’s at the end of its life,” Dispatch Director Jeremy Ludwig said.
A new system would replace equipment on local radio towers, in the dispatch offices and on the officers and emergency personnel all throughout the county. Ten law-enforcement agencies rely on Allegan County Central Dispatch, as well as 20 fire departments and five EMS agencies.
In 2015, the center handled 37,500 calls relating to law enforcement, 4,900 for fire services and 10,200 for EMS.
Replacing the whole system, Ludwig said, will cost in the range of $8-$10 million, in addition to whatever financing costs will be attached to the project.
“Those are all things we are exploring as we move forward with a purchase,” Ludwig said.
Besides the old system reaching its shelf life, Ludwig said, Allegan County’s 911 radio needs a general technological upgrade. The current system has compatibility issues with surrounding dispatch networks, causing communication hiccups between Allegan County and elsewhere.
“It’s because (the radio systems) were made by different manufacturers,” Ludwig said. “It would be like using a Verizon (Wireless) phone on an AT&T network.”
But the new system will meet a series of standards, called “Project 25,” that will enable seamless communication between Allegan County and other systems.
The $8-10 million price tag will be footed through the dispatch’s phone bill surcharge. Allegan County residents pay $3 per device on each monthly phone bill to fund Central Dispatch’s operations and capitol improvement.
The new system will last around 15 years. Vendors advertise 20-plus years, Ludwig said, but the technology will probably run its course quicker than that.
It’s like buying a computer, Ludwig said. “You bring it home and two days later it's obsolete.”
Allegan County commissioners will host a meeting on Monday, May 23, to provide information to local government and public safety officials regarding the radio system’s replacement.
Then, on Thursday, May 26, the commissioners will meet again to discuss final bids for the project. Once begun, replacing the new system will take 8-12 months, according to county documents, followed by a trial period of testing and monitoring.
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