web1_20190711_113133.jpg

Camp Sight helps visually impaired kids enjoy summer

web1_Naasir-Morrison-HanPD-07192019.jpg

Three men arrested in drug sweeps in Nanticoke, Hanover Township

<p>The firm cost of a 911 emergency radio communications project estimated between $16 million and $24 million won&#8217;t be known for about two weeks, Luzerne County 911 Executive Director Fred Rosencrans said this week.</p><p>Two vendors &#8212; JVC Kenwood and Motorola &#8212; submitted proposals by the July 15 deadline, Rosencrans said.</p><p>Unlike traditional bids for construction or materials containing one bottom-line cost, the lengthy radio project proposals include a range of equipment, technology and support service options that must be analyzed, Rosencrans said.</p><p>The solicitor&#8217;s office said proposals for such professional services don&#8217;t have to be publicly released when they are opened, in part due to the possibility they may contain confidential proprietary information.</p><p>&#8220;The price will be clear once we narrow down and decide what features we want,&#8221; Rosencrans said.</p><p>Rosencrans said does not even want to say if the proposals appear to fall within the estimated range.</p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to give the wrong number and create a sense of false hope,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We&#8217;re finally at a point where we have numbers. We just have to figure out what the final number will be.&#8221;</p><p>The administration and its project consultant, MCM Consulting Group, are reviewing the proposals section by section and must verify each proposal meets requirements, he said.</p><p>County officials want to switch from a 20-year-old analog system to a digital one because equipment support for the radio transmitters and receivers that allow emergency responders to exchange messages will end Dec. 31, 2020. The system won&#8217;t automatically shut down on that date, but replacement parts have become increasingly difficult to find because they are no longer manufactured.</p><p>Interested vendors had to come up with a turn-key solution that incorporate state-of-the-art technology, warranties and maintenance and meets minimum digital and audio quality thresholds set by the county, according to the request for proposals that had been issued more than three months ago.</p><p>The request listed four &#8220;high-profile&#8221; structures that must have in-building coverage: the county courthouse and prison in Wilkes-Barre, the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township and the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino in Plains Township.</p><p>The system also needs capacity to support 73 fire departments, 56 police departments, 38 EMS agencies, the sheriff&#8217;s department, 76 local municipal emergency management agencies, the county emergency management agency and five hospitals.</p><p>Combined, these public safety agencies service the county&#8217;s 906 square miles, approximately 317,340 residents and visitors and travelers passing through.</p><p>While pursuing outside revenue streams, the administration plans to propose new borrowing to cover a significant portion of the purchase. Council has earmarked $1 million in the capital budget to begin the project, and a $330,000 gambling grant was awarded to help fund a new 160-foot emergency communication tower in Ross Township that will improve radio coverage in the Back Mountain.</p><p>To secure the best interest rates, the 2018 audit must be complete before a new borrowing and debt refinancing package can be proposed, which is why the administration has said it must meet a July 31 audit completion target.</p><p>The county missed the June 30 home rule charter audit deadline due to unresolved issues with financial statements involving reimbursements owed to and from some county agencies.</p><p>County Budget/Finance Division Head Brian Swetz said this week the county is still on track to complete the audit by the end of July.</p><p>An update on the audit progress is planned at Tuesday&#8217;s county council meeting.</p><p>The county&#8217;s outstanding debt was $279 million &#8212; $212 million principal and $67 million interest &#8212; at the end of 2018, Swetz said. The county has since paid around $7 million toward this year&#8217;s $25 million budgeted obligation, the latest financial report through June 30 shows.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_Rosencrans.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption">Rosencrans </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_Rosencrans.jpeg</photo0><caption0>Rosencrans </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jennifer Learn-Andes</p><p>jandes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Final tab for new Luzerne County 911 emergency radio project still unclear