Butts County (GA)

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New Digital Radio System

12/30/24 - Butts County’s public service communication system is now top notch as four new communication towers and all new communication equipment have been installed across the county’s public safety network.

The total system cost $2.5 million, which includes four towers, new radios for all field units (mobile and handheld), console equipment for the radio center and the equipment at each tower site, plus installation. A combination of SPLOST funds, impact fees and capital improvement funds was used to purchase the new system.

Briefing: Public Safety Radio System Upgrade

County Manager Brad Johnson presented this item. The Administration has solicited bids for significant enhancements to our public safety two-way radio system currently in use by E-911, Sheriff, Police, Fire and EMS. The administration has reviewed all bids and has selected the most cost-effective and responsive bid for presentation to the Board of Commissioners. Once the bid has been awarded, a significant upgrade to all of our public safety radio systems would be accomplished per the specifications in the bid package. Final project phases will be completed in the first half of 2024. The award will be made to Baker's Communication, Inc of 2627 SW Main Blvd, Lake City, FL 32056 in the amount of $1,940,090.00. This item is on the main docket for approval under Resolution 62. Presentation on Impact Fees Page Hatley will make a presentation on Impact Fees for the Board but there will be no action taken on this item tonight. PRELIMINARIES (6:00 PM) Chairman Douglas called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM with all Members present. Call to Order and Welcome Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance Setting of the Docket Upon a motion by Mr. Rivers and seconded by Mr. Henderson, the docket was approved with Item 186 removed since this was previously presented in the Workshop and all Commissioners were present to hear it in the workshop.

Mr. Johnson presented a request to purchase a UHF digital radio system for Public Safety usage in the Fire, EMS and Law Enforcement Agencies, as well as Public Works. The total cost of the system is $1,940,090.00 and will paid for from the Capital Improvement Fund, Impact Fees and SPLOST 7 funds earmarked for 911

Miscellaneous Information

Request for proposals (PDF)
Butts County is a relatively small county covering roughly 185 square miles in the southern half of North

Georgia. Located nearly equidistant between Atlanta and Macon, the County shares a common border with two of Georgia’s fastest growing counties and hosts six miles of Interstate 75, along with two rapidly growing and complex interchanges. These interchanges and the interstate corridor alone contribute to a significant public safety impact, demanding high quality public safety radio communications. Butts County also has a rolling and, in some cases, hilly topography that presents occasional challenges to high quality communications. Outdoor recreational opportunities such as biking and hiking trails, a major river corridor, a large recreational lake and wilderness areas present unique challenges when rescue efforts much be mounted and being able to communicate effectively between base operations and field units will be essential in a new public safety communication solution.

Primary public safety communications originate with the Butts County E-911 Dispatch Center, located at

625 W. Third Street in Jackson, Georgia. The Center began operations in October of 1993 as the first centralized dispatch center for Butts County. Prior to its opening, local public safety agencies handled and managed their own radio dispatch systems and equipment, much of which was inherited when these functions were centralized into the new dispatch center. While there have been at least two major upgrades to the system interfaces within the E-911 center and some key hardware and software upgrades to the behind-the-scenes system architecture, the system operates essentially on the same basis as it has since the center was created. As time has gone by, the quality of signal, distance and the abilities of the system have become tremendously impacted by frequency crowding and the proliferation of modern private sector communications architecture that did not exist in 1993. This has resulted in considerable degradation of radio communications, which in turn has impacted the safety and efficiency of our public safety field units and others.

The Butts County E-911 Dispatch Center utilizes three console stations on a regular basis and can escalate operations to four when necessary, which is the maximum currently available. Operators and Supervisors working at these consoles provide the dual role of call taking and dispatch functions for the following primary agencies:

a. Butts County Fire and EMS (Jurisdictional Fire Coverage and Countywide Ambulance) b. Butts County Sheriff’s Office (Countywide) c. Butts County Emergency Management (Countywide) d. Jackson Police Department (Coverage within the City of Jackson) 15 e. Jackson Fire Department (Coverage primarily within the City of Jackson) f. Flovilla Fire Department (Coverage primarily within the City of Flovilla) g. Georgia Diagnostic Prison Fire Department (Coverage countywide) Additionally, the dispatch center occasionally communicates via radio with the following agencies: a. Butts County Administration Department b. Butts County Public Works Department

It is important to note that all these agencies share one of two major frequencies. All law enforcement agencies currently share one VHF frequency, while all non-law enforcement agencies share a common VHF frequency of their own. Administration and Public Works can communicate on both frequencies as the need arises. Additionally, a number of secondary and tertiary frequencies are available and can be used for ground communications such as Fire Incident Command or Law Enforcement Ground Operations when a situation calls for it.

The current system makes use of the following external infrastructure to aid in communications:

a. A 150’ tower located at 1471 Highway 16 West (repeaters for LE and Fire/EMS). Located at this site is a Hear Base station with multiple channels/frequencies, microwave brain boxes, 3 UPS’s (for each repeater and base) b. An elevated water tank located at 116 Jackson Lake Inn Road (LE relays). This site is a receiver site for L.E. and microwave equipment. c. An elevated water tank located at 2182 Highway 16 West (LE relays). This site is a receiver site for L.E. and microwave equipment. d. Leased space on an AT&T freestanding 300’ tower on the east side of the Ocmulgee. River. This site has an auxiliary receiver for Fire.

III. Desired Outcomes

Butts County wishes to receive cost proposals from qualified vendors capable of providing a turnkey solution for upgrading our existing radio communications system from VHF to a modern UHF Digital Trunking System capable of interoperability with MCS5500 radio dispatch consoles.

The system should include a minimum of six (6) channels/frequencies and, upon implementation, be capable of providing at least 90% or better coverage with portable radio on hip with shoulder mic within Butts County.

The system should include Fire Station alerting using NFPA 1221 Standards for all Fire/EMS stations including Butts County, city of Flovilla, city of Jackson, and the Diagnostic Center.
System should have the capability to talk with departments affiliated with Butts County and interoperability with State and surrounding agencies.

The system would also need to include the following minimum equipment for field use. The mobile units will need to be installed on a variety of vehicles. a. 164 system capable portable units b. 155 system capable mobile units

The system capable mobile units broken down by department: • Administration 4 • E-911 Center 1 • Code Enforcement 3 • Fire Department 32 • Public Works 7 • Sheriff’s Office 78 • Flovilla Fire Department 4 • City of Jackson Fire Department 7 • City of Jackson Police Department 20 c. Assist Butts County with licensure and procurement of channels/frequencies from the FCC. d. During the maintenance term, contractor shall supply and install all updates, enhancements, improvements, or modifications to the equipment (hardware, firmware, and software) at no additional cost to the County. During the maintenance period, the contractor shall correct or replace the equipment or provide the services necessary to remedy any programming error, malfunction, or other problems relating to the hardware, software, firmware. After the maintenance term expires, maintenance/support costs provided by the contractor will be paid by the County.

Butts County

Butts County Sheriff

Butts County Government

45.480 KKV891 BM Road and Waste [Expired 6/15] FMN Deprecated 1/19/25
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Municipalities

Flovila

154.085 KNJX565 BM Local Government [Expired 9/24] FMN Deprecated 1/19/25

Jackson

158.775 155.040 WPQF351 RM Police: Tac [Expired 6/15] FMN Deprecated 1/19/25
155.595 M Police: Tac [No License] FM Deprecated 1/19/25

Schools

Butts Schools

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