SIDNEY -- Cheyenne County Communications Director Heidi Gillespie is seeking an upgrade to the Communications Center system.

Gillespie met with the Cheyenne County Commissioners on Monday, February 6, to discuss using ARPA funds to fund new communications equipment.

She told the commissioners the current radio consoles are "non-public safety rated." She said it was installed in 2013 and is no longer supported by Motorola. 

She described a new dispatch console available through the State at a price of about $485,000; $542,000 installed and with staff training. 

The next question is how to fund it. Gillespie suggested agencies supported by the Communications Center support the upgrade according to their percent of calls. She has also contacted the Department of Homeland Security researching grant options as well. Other funding options are the Buckley Trust, and 911 fees charged on telephones. She said there is about $150,000 in the 911 fund. 

The challenge, according to the discussion, is some of the grant are reimbursement funds. The county would have to purchase the equipment, then receive the grants.

Commissioner Randy Miller suggested using inheritance tax funds to finance the equipment

"Time is of the essence.  We need to start the process," Miller said.

Gillespie said she would be upgrading the software in the current system, one of the issues with the performance of the computers.