By Rupert Howell

Panola supervisors sent the county’s EMA director back to the E-911 board for further recommendation on a county-wide communication system after Director Daniel Cole explained one of two systems favored would cost over $1.3 million.

Meeting in Sardis at the supervisors’ First District gathering Monday morning, Cole appeared to be looking for direction when he told the board, “I’m offering food for thought.”

The Emergency Management Director said the E-911 board had narrowed vendors down to two— Motorola and Tait. He explained the Motorola is favored because of its GPS capability, but its cost is $221,540 more. Cole also explained that county administrator Kelley Magee informed him that the county can afford neither.

Radio woes have been prevalent for years due to spotty coverage but recent  state mandated changes from narrow band from broadband frequencies added to the problem.

Currently emergency responders and departments are not tied together and some areas in the county do not have communications coverage.

Road manager Lygunnah Bean noted that his department’s radios work well on a daily basis but emphasized that when a severe storm comes through such as Katrina in 2005, “I can’t communicate with anyone.”

Cole explained that the county had never had a county-wide system, but a “hodge-podge” of frequencies used by different agencies and departments.

District Three supervisor John Thomas noted that more mobile radios would be replaced or used to serve the county’s rural fire departments than the rest of the agencies combined.

Magee told supervisors that E-911 funds were available to cover approximately $60,000 in yearly payments. Cole had earlier explained that an estimated $322,000 was needed just to replace three dispatcher consoles in addition to the new system with Magee stating the available funds would about cover the consoles.

Alternatives were discussed to lower the overall cost and Magee confirmed that Lee County had purchased a system through bonds. Other forms of financing discussed included short-term notes and lease purchases. Cole revealed that Motorola had offered a 10-year financing plan and speculated that the other provider would probably offer financing.

Board President Kelly Morris asked for and received a motion for Cole to go back to the E-911 board for specific recommendations and to ask participating municipalities of Como, Crenshaw, Courtland, Pope and Sardis if they would be willing to purchase radios for a new system.
“Let Daniel and the E-911 board work on it,” Morris said.