Communications needed upgrades top 23 million in costs

Botetourt County’s lack of attention to its emergency communications systems is finally catching up with it.

Botetourt County Fire Chief Jason Ferguson told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 that it would cost around $23 million to bring the aging communications system for both the Sheriff’s Office and the Fire-EMS department up to current standards.

Grant monies are available to help with costs, he said.

The current communication system dates back to 1998 and is an analogue system with no encryption and a deficit of coverage in numerous county communities, including Blue Ridge, the Appalachian Trail, Oriskany, Glen Wilton, Arcadia, and the Blue Ridge Parkway area, Ferguson said.

Many volunteer fire and rescue service members continue to rely on pagers to receive notifications about incidents, Ferguson said. The county also does not have the ability to communicate effectively with neighboring jurisdictions. He recommended that Botetourt County’s upgrade should be combined with the regional partnership already in place in Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem, and Franklin County.

Additionally, the county’s towers and relays are aging and rely on the Fincastle tower site for all communication. If that site goes down, the entire system goes down, Ferguson said.

The county also needs to add communication towers in Oriskany and Catawba for coverage in those areas.

Additionally, the county should add personnel to perform as a radio technology professional to keep the system updated and running smoothly, Ferguson said.

The supervisors received a large packet of information and Ferguson said he would meet with staff and discuss the matter with the supervisors again after they had had time to read the information he provided.

The Supervisors made no decisions about the issues Ferguson mentioned.

                                                            — Anita Firebaugh, Special to The Botetourt Bee, file photo he Botetourt Bee