06. ARMER Radio Project Participation Plan amendmen

211 9th Street South, Fargo, ND 58103 | www.casscountynd.gov Administration Telephone: 701-241-5770 Fax: 701-241-5776 wilsonro@casscountynd.gov MEMO TO: County Commission FROM: Robert W. Wilson Date: November 17, 2022 Subject: ARMER Participation Plan Amendment Request __________________________________________________________________________________ Cass County’s Emergency Radio System was recently upgraded and is built on the Minnesota-based ARMER platform. Using the ARMOR platform allows us to access more current technology for the radio connectivity between RRRDC dispatch and first responders. Utilizing the Minnesota-based system required RRRDC to apply for and be approved to utilize the ARMER system. When we, through RRRDC, applied to utilize the system we had to estimate how many end users (radio units) would ultimately utilize the system. Simply put, we underestimated the usage. We originally applied for use of up to 1,800 radios and by full deployment that number had grown to 2,875. This is not a problem, but it does require RRRDC to update the participation plan we operate under on the ARMER platform. There is no cost to updating this participation plan and RRRDC representatives tell me there is no concern this request will be denied. Cass County will request a total of 3,200 radio ID’s. There are a number of factors that have contributed to increased usage. There was a lag time of almost a year between when all public safety agencies using the system first had to identify the number of units needed and when they were delivered. That accounted for part of the increase. There were also additional needs identified in that timeframe – such as radios for Red River Valley SWAT and obtaining an extra cache of radios in case of a major incident when additional resources might be needed and provided from other regions. More recently, other users who have a public safety element to their service, such as rural Cass County school districts – school bus communications – have also purchased radios and are utilizing the platform. Because of the increased use a Participation Plan Amendment is needed and will be presented on Monday, November 21st for Commission consideration. Brian Zastoupil from Red River Regional Dispatch will attend the meeting and be available for questions. SUGGESTED MOTION: Authorize the Chairman to sign the request amendment to our ARMER participation plan for an additional 1,400 ARMER radio ID’s.