By Marvin G. Cortner

Editor

Osceola County commissioners today authorized the purchase of a new radio communication system for the county in 2012, given that the current system has become obsolete.

The core of the system now in use was purchased in 1988, with critical components no longer being available after December 2012, according to county documents. An upgrade also is needed to comply with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal agency initiatives.

The vendor for the first phase of upgrading the communication system is Motorola Solution, and the cost of this phase will not exceed $11.84 million.

The total estimated cost of upgrading the entire radio system – accomplished in later phases spread over a period of up to 10 years – would be between $23 million and $25 million, depending on what equipment options the county choses, county documents show.

Public Safety/Emergency Services Director Rich Collins in the past said phasing the transfer of the current analog system to a new digital system would allow some equipment to continue to be used though 2018.

With today's action, the county can move forward on adopting the new P25 digital radio system, with budgeting in future years dictating the speed of implementation of later phases.

Phase 1 involves moving 10 channels to the new digital system, with analogue equipment still able to communicate with digital equipment.

Beth Knight, deputy county manager, earlier said phasing would allow “continued seamless operability within the county and with outside agencies,” adding that there are opportunities to share infrastructure with Orlando and Orange and Polk counties.

According to Collins, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office is the greatest user of the radio system and that Sheriff's Bob Hansell is in complete agreement with the phased in approach and has worked well with the vendor in the past.

The county will finance $10 million of the first phase costs through Bank of America, at a tentative interest rate of 2.55 percent.

 East U.S. 192 Community Redevelopment Agency update

County staff is continuing to work on bringing to the commission a resolution related to establishing a community redevelopment agency for East U.S. Highway 192 between the city limits of Kissimmee and Partin Settlement Road. The decline in property values along the highway prompted the county to move forward on establishing a redevelopment agency for the area, which is considered to be blighted.

The preliminary findings for determining that there is blight along the roadway and a financial feasibility report have been prepared, according to county staff, and a resolution will be presented Dec. 12 to adopt a finding of necessity that would allow the county to proceed with a redevelopment plan.

Following approval of the resolution, community meetings would be held for property and business owners, a redevelopment plan would be written, an agency would be authorized and, finally, a tax increment financing plan and related trust fund would be created to fund improvements.

In other news:

• County Manager Don Fisher said a draft contract with Maryland-based Library Systems & Services LLC to outsource operation of the Osceola Library System would be available Tuesday morning. The commission will consider the contract at its Dec. 12 meeting.

• The commission today also dropped a requirement that Keystone Field Service, the outside auditor under contract to review rights of way purchases for the Narcoossee Road improvement project, provide an interim report. Instead, the report will be required once 16 weeks of work is completed.

The commission in early August approved the original professional services agreement for the audit.