Barton County 911 is in the final stages of making the switch to an 800 megahertz communications system. According to Barton County 911 Director Dena Popp, the new system is a blend of traditional two-way radio technology and computer-controlled transmitters. The system’s main advantage is that radio transmitters can be shared among various departments with the aid of computer programming.

Dena Popp Audio

Popp requested the purchase of seven 800 megahertz radios, a combiner system and 12 recording licenses. There is also work that needs to be done to the antennae apparatus on the top of the 911 building. With a total replacement cost of just over $96,000, Commissioner Jennifer Schartz wanted to make sure that the county wasn’t buying equipment that would be replaced by a newer system in just a few years.

Dena Popp Audio

No tax dollars will be used for the purchase as all monies will come from the 911 tax fund. The 911 tax is a monthly tax on switched access lines, cell phones and Voice Over Internet Protocol services.