County OKs $400K emergency radio fix

By DEUCE NIVEN

    A $400,000 improvement plan for Columbus County’s new $1.3 million emergency radio system was approved by Columbus County Commissioners on Monday.
    Negotiations with Kenwood since mid-March cut nearly $50,000 from the proposal to “optimize” the system used by law enforcement, fire departments and emergency medical personnel across the county.
    Action followed more than an hour of discussion, that included pleas from some departments to make the improvements quickly.
    County attorney Mike Stephens said Kenwood rejected his efforts for a performance bond or guarantee on the work, but agreed to extend a warranty on new equipment from 90-days to one year.
    Ron Runyon, Kenwood Sales Manager for the Eastern United States, said the original system installed by Fleet Connect, a Sanford based Kenwood dealer, had flaws that need to be corrected to improve coverage in the county.
    No system provides 100 percent coverage, Runyon said, but the improvements proposed by Kenwood will improve coverage, he said.
    For more on this story see the April 23 Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.