Commissioners hear report on radio problems

First responder radios have had frequency issues in Jefferson County, particularly in the Shepherdstown area. Toni Milbourne
CHARLES TOWN — For several years, emergency responders in and around the Shepherdstown area have expressed concerns over inadequate radio reception that inhibits communications. Last Thursday, several state employees came before the Jefferson County Commission to address the problems and offer some suggestions.
Fred Kinder, with the Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN), who serves the Eastern Panhandle, was joined by Dustyn McConnell, SIRN statewide interoperability coordinator and Jeff Perry, chief of mission support for West Virginia’s Emergency Management Division. Both McConnell and Perry came from Charleston to help address what are classified as “dead spots” in the Shepherdstown area specifically, along with some that fall elsewhere in Jefferson County.
Kinder told commissioners that Shepherd University officials had most recently contacted him about radios that do not work, especially inside buildings on campus.
“We have met with folks at Shepherd University and are working to address the problems,” Kinder said, adding that the age of the equipment as well as some of the building materials in campus facilities are responsible for some of the problems.
Kinder spent a good bit of time explaining to commissioners that many of the radios in use in Jefferson County are programmed incorrectly.
“The programming component allows the radios to roam between two sites,” Kinder said, adding that Shepherdstown is unique, in that there is a tower location in Berkeley County on North Mountain and one in Jefferson County on the Blue Ridge. The optimal service is had when the radio can roam and pick up whichever tower frequency is available. Instead, many of Jefferson County’s radios are programmed specifically to only search for the Blue Ridge tower, which, when not available for whatever reason, leaves emergency personnel in those dead spots where no service is available.
Jefferson County 911 Director Jeff Polczynski was also at the commission meeting and explained that at the time the Blue Ridge tower was constructed in 2008, the goal was to move Jefferson County to that tower to alleviate overuse on the Berkeley County tower.
“We have already reprogrammed the sheriff’s office to remove site specific,” Polczynski said, mentioning other equipment will also be reprogrammed.
Kinder also told commissioners that his office established a test site at the Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department, to offer additional frequencies to determine if that helped eliminate dead spots.
“We ran that site for a month. That piece of equipment handled 10,000 calls for service,” Kinder said, noting it was a huge improvement.
With that said, Kinder suggested Jefferson County possibly explore the location for an additional tower in or around Shepherdstown.
“We have found a suitable site and frequencies for that site,” Kinder said.
Kinder said it is not up to him to spend Jefferson County’s funds. He indicated the first step would be to conduct a structural analysis of potential sites, with towers in place, to see if locations would be feasible.
In addition, Kinder advised that many of the radios in use are simply old and outdated.
“Looking at the radios as a whole in Jefferson County, they are 10-15 years old and are sundowned,” Kinder said, clarifying they need to be replaced.
Commissioner Jennifer Krouse, who is in the Shepherdstown District, stressed that options needed to be explored to provide adequate radio service.
“We need to make sure all radios are reprogrammed,” she said.
Commissioner Tricia Jackson requested for Kinder to put some information in writing, so the commissioners had some proposals to consider, which Kinder agreed to do with Polczynski’s help.
Commission President Steve Stolipher asked about potential grants that could offset some of the costs for a potential new tower as well as radios.
Polczynski said he would compile information and have it back before the JCC at their May 4 regular meeting.