The Craighead County Quorum Court unanimously approved 13-thousand-dollars for a needed upgrade to the radio system that rural firefighters use. The analog systems will be converted to digital signals and improvements will be made in the 911 center for dispatchers to communicate with firefighters a lot easier. Jeff Presley is the director of Jonesboro and Craighead County’s E-911
“It will be a command control radio system that will integrate into the current system and bring it up to date,” says Presley.
David Moore is the Craighead County Office of Emergency Management Director. Moore says currently there is one console with one person at the console. If that dispatcher is taking another call or moves away, calls cannot be heard. He says this upgrade will allow for all dispatchers to be able to take the calls and all the calls will be recorded for training purposes. He says this will be very efficient for those who work in the field:
“If they need resources, it will be easier and much faster for those to get in touch with E911 and get the help they need,” says Moore.
The new system could be ready in 30 days.
They are being paid for in full by the Quorum Court. Jonesboro attorney Bobby McDaniel had donated 65-hundred dollars for the radios. This was after a suggestion that the firefighters raise half of the funds and the Quorum Court funded the rest. County Judge Ed Hill says he will contact McDaniel to see if he wants the money back or for it to be used for future upgrades to the radio system. A future overhaul of the entire communications infrastructure is expected to be at least one-and-a-half million dollars.
