Paducah Board of Commissioners approve 911 radio upgrade
PADUCAH, Ky. (KBSI) – The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with a company for a 911 radio system.
The board approved the agreement with Communications International at a meeting on Monday, December 11.
The radio system for the 911 Center needs to be replaced and has been called functionally obsolete.
During a joint city-county meeting on December 11, both governmental bodies discussed the project. The McCracken County Fiscal Court approved the agreement. Mayor George Bray called it a “momentous day” said he appreciated the city and county working together to replace the aging radio system for the benefit of city and county citizens.
The $10,013,436.64 agreement will upgrade the Paducah-McCracken County 911 radio system. It includes equipment for five radio towers, consoles for the 911 Communications Center with backup consoles at the McCracken County Emergency Operations Center and portable radio units for first responders.
Of that $10 million total, the system infrastructure upgrades equal more than $7.67 million which will be split equally between the city and county.
The remaining costs are for the portable radio units for city and county agencies.
The preliminary schedule estimates completion in March 2025. The project schedule will be finalized at upcoming design review meetings.
The board also approved a Municipal Order to amend the agreement with 911 project consultant, Federal Engineering, for professional consulting work for the implementation, testing and final cutover of the 911 radio system upgrade.
Next steps for this project include determining the governing structure for the 911 system. It is currently owned by the city and managed under the Paducah Police Department. The city and county will be working to determine a structure to fund the 911 costs. There have been discussions on levying a water meter fee or a parcel fee.
In August 2021, the city and county approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a partnership to upgrade the 911 system which includes the creation of a joint oversight committee. Also in the MOU, the city and county agree to be equal partners in the capital expenditures to upgrade the equipment.
In December 2022, the city of Paducah and McCracken County issued a request for proposals for the project with proposals opened in March 2023. An eight-member city and county team evaluated the proposals with the unanimous determination to move forward with Communications International. In July 2023, an intent to award letter was issued to Communications International.
