“We did some installs of antennas on Short Mountain just to do some testing without new equipment, and it vastly improved the coverage of those sites. “That will vastly improve coverage,” Miller said of the new analog system. 2020 that they were approved for the grant, they didn’t “have the go-ahead” to begin the project until June 10. Although the county had received word in Oct. When further questioned, Miller explained that the CDBG grant also caused delays with beginning the project. Responders on opposite ends of the county also have reported having trouble communicating with one another. Numerous first responders have noted that there are currently large dead zones throughout the county, particularly in the Clinch Mountain and Beech Creek areas. In September of 2020, the commission approved the $425,000 project cost 20-1, and, the following October, the county received word that their application for the $250,000 emergency Community Development Block Grant was approved in full.
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Tempers flared at the meeting, but miscommunication seemed to be the biggest issue, as commissioners repeatedly questioned Miller about this delay.īack in July of 2020, the Committee voted to choose the quicker to install and less expensive analogue option to replace the emergency communications equipment that has been malfunctioning since November of 2019 This decision came after months of back-and-forth and consideration of many different replacement systems that ranged in cost. Pursuing grant funding and product shipping delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have delayed implementation of this replacement system. Source: Once again, the failing emergency communications equipment in Hawkins County was the topic of a recent heated exchange at the July 21 Public Safety Committee meeting.Īs members of local emergency response agencies gave reports to the Committee, Commissioner Dawson Fields became increasingly angry when responders mentioned the radio communication issues they encountered during the 13-day search for missing 5-year-old Summer Wells.īoth Fields and Commissioner Mike Herrell told responders that they were tired of the Commission being blamed for these issues, stating that the commission had already recommended that the current failing system be “band-aided” until a permanent solution could be found.ĮMA Director Jamie Miller explained that the replacement analog system has been ordered.