Rather than relocating decades-old radio equipment into its new dispatch center, Ray County 911 will install an entirely new radio system after the board approved a $77,077.53 proposal from Commenco.

The proposal, approved during the board’s recent meeting, covers the replacement of the dispatch center’s Very High Frequency (VHF) radio infrastructure with new equipment for the facility. The radio replacement is one of the final major projects needed before Ray County 911 transitions operations into its new dispatch center, which remains on schedule for turnover later this year.

Commenco Sales Representative Bryce Heisey explained much of the county’s existing radio equipment has been in service for about 50 years, making replacement a better option than relocating the aging system.

The project includes 11 replacement radios consisting of two 100-watt base stations, one 100-watt T33R station and eight 45-watt control stations. It also includes Federal Communications Commission license rewo…