To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Homeland Security Grant

Initiator

Department of Engineering

Recommendation

Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved accept a \n \n Homeland Security Grant for the purpose of upgrading the City's 800 MHz Radio \n \n Communication System to improve Radio Interoperability between the counties \n \n within the GEMA Region IV in an amount of $1,060,000.

Approval

Approved

Background

In response to the 911 terrorist attack, each state created Homeland Security

Task Force for which federal funds will be distributed. Georgia uses the

Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to distribute Homeland Security

funds. Each GEMA region has an All Hazards Council established to identify

needs, approve funding applications & recommend funding distribution to GEMA

for which Muscogee is in Region IV.



Region IV established Radio Interoperability as its first priority to be sure

that all counties have a way to respond and communicate to emergencies. The

Region IV plan is to expand the two primary 800 MHz Radio System over time to

provide 800 MHz radio communications to all counties. The plan is to expand

the Columbus Radio System eastward and the Macon area Radio Systems westward.

Analysis

The Columbus Radio System needs to be upgraded to communicate in Digital as

well at the Analog mode. The City's 800 MHz Radio System is 11.5 years old

operating in an Analog only mode. The current Tower Relocation project will

relocate the Prime Transmission site from the WXTX-TV tower to a new City owned

tower. It will also be the first step in converting the Radio System to a

digital mode by adding three digital/analog channels. This is the Phase I of a

two Phase project to create a digital/analog transmission system meeting Public

Safety standards. Phase II includes all of the necessary transmission

equipment for System Redundancy so that no single point failure takes the

digital/analog part of the transmission system down. The Phase I project

provides for a Zone Controller which allows us to grow the Radio System to

adjoining counties for which Troup County is the first county to use this

feature in creating a Regional Radio System.



The Homeland Security grant application can provide the funding for the

following purposes:

1. Complete Phase II purchase of the System Redundancy components $684,500

2. Flash upgrade four analog channels with Quantar repeaters to

digital/analog $275,500

3. Flash upgrade some 200 mobile/portable radios to operate on the digital

channels $100,000

TOTAL $1,060,000

Financial Considerations

The Grant is a reimbursement grant requiring the City to expend approved funds

and be reimbursed by GEMA.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

Legal Considerations

All grant application requires Council approval.

Recommendations/ Actions

Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved accept a

Homeland Security Grant application.

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