Commissioners briefed on proposed county-wide communication system

Sequoyah County Undersheriff Charles House provided a brief update Tuesday to the Sequoyah County Commissioners on the proposed communications system which is currently in discussion.

House said the new system, which would include the Rural Fire Departments in Sequoyah County to communicate with other agencies, seems to be favored by all those involved in the discussion.

House said Cherokee Nation is seeking a $39 million grant which could help with the funding but the tribe has been involved in talks. The monies the tribe receives also includes disbursements with other agencies in their 14-county jurisdiction, according to House “but that can go pretty quick,” he said.

“I think we have a clear direction on how we‚re going to go digital,” House said. “Improvements to the current communications system has been an on-going subject since the American Relief Plan Act money first became available last year.”

Sequoyah County received $8 million at the time but the funds came with strict guidelines on how it could be used, according to District 3 Sequoyah County Commissioner Jim Rogers.

Sequoyah County 911 Director David Slaughter, who was not at the meeting Tuesday, provided information about an alert system last week he said would be beneficial to the county.

Slaughter has said the current method of sending out alerts for storms, fires, accidents and other emergency information is usually just a call to the fire departments, Emergency Medical Services and law enforcement. An alert system would not only notify emergency crews about the incident requiring assistance but also residents who may need to take precautions.

Slaughter‚s proposal is to provide an alert system from Rave Panic Button Emergency Communication Solutions at a yearly rate of $8,400.

Slaughter said the alert system would help alleviate some of the problems residents have had in the past, such as accidents resulting in traffic detours or long-awaited times, grass fires which can result in heavy smoke on the roadway making it difficult for motorists to see, and oncoming tornadoes or other extreme weather conditions which can send a message out for people to take precautions before sirens are sounded to name a few.

House said the new system would make improvements to the communication towers currently in use by the county.

In other business, the commissioners approved a transfer from ARPA General Government to ARPA District 1, 2 and 3 accounts to utilize some of the funding for roads, according to commissioners.