Township group asks commissioners to fix radio problem

Members of the PI Michigan Township Association unanimously adopted a resolution at their July 1 meeting in Belknap Township, insisting the county commissioners clear up communication problems to ?all the townships? in Presque Isle County. The resolution/letter was to be hand-delivered to chairman Allan Bruder of the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners before Wednesday evening?s regular board meeting.

?We are insisting that this condition ceases to exist, and that we receive 100 percent radio coverage,? said Dean Storms, Case Township supervisor. Only a handful of township representatives were not at the meeting.

THE RESOLUTION is in response to the ongoing radio troubles between officers and emergency workers, who at times can?t deliver their messages. The communications are garbled or don?t get through at all. It?s a safety issue for people in the field, as well as the public. Undersheriff Bob Paschke said the system seemed to be working well for a time last week, after some work was done on it, but soon broke down again.

The commissioners have discussed using grant money to replace a rusted tower at the sheriff?s department building, which was hit by lightning in June 2002, but also are considering another option involving the Michigan State Police?s 800 megahertz system. State police towers are strategically located throughout the state so officers can communicate with each other, whether they are in the Presque Isle Township, which is known as a ?dead spot? for radio communication in the county, or in Iron Mountain. Several towers are located in Presque Isle County.

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MISSIONERS HAVE been told that if they agree to participate in the 800 megahertz system, the equipment can be erected on the Michigan State Police towers, so the old systems wouldn?t have to be scrapped. But for the county to participate, radios, costing as much as $4,500, would have to be purchased. Storms doesn?t believe the 800 megahertz system would clear up the problem.

?My personal concern is, with this 800 megahertz thing, is that it will solve the sheriff?s department?s problem, but it will not solve our township problem with our first responders, and our firemen, and our ambulance people,? said Storms.

?My concern is that when the sheriff?s department problem is solved,? added Storms, ?then we?re going to have a more difficult time trying to get our problem resolved.? The resolution was signed by MTA chairman Neil Sorgenfrei.