Mountain View County council has approved funding of just over $300,000 for area fire departments to help with the cost of upgrading to the Alberta First Responders Radio Communications System (AFRRCS).
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The funding allocation was $72,713 to the Carstairs department, $103,768 to the Sundre department, $79,383 to the Didsbury department and $63,061 to the Cremona department.
“The AFRRCS is a provincewide two-way radio network for public safety-first responder agencies, including police, fire and ambulance,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
The regional radio committee had recommended that the implementation of the new system be done in three phases starting with the fire departments, then Emergency Management Agency and peace officers, and then three public works.
Following the review of all AFRRCS proposal submissions received, the successful proponent was Wi-Com Solutions Inc. of Calgary.
“Each urban municipality was asked to provide formal written approval outlining the equipment required for their respective department including any additional options requested, as well as advising whether they would be participating in the 2018 purchase or deferring to their 2019 fire budgets.
“Due to the different operational models of the fire departments, each department moving forward with their purchase in 2018 was tasked with working together with Wi-Com to complete their equipment order which best suits their needs.”
Mountain View County, on behalf of each fire department, will undertake the initial group purchase of these radios/pagers, council heard.
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