Columbia council to spend $26,000 for radios for borough staff

When: Columbia Council meeting, July 11.

What happened: The council voted unanimously to spend up to $26,000 to buy 10 portable radios for borough staff. The radios will be purchased through the same contract being used to buy police radios at a substantial discount.

Background: At the June 13 meeting, council approved a $75,000 purchase of 25 dual-band police radios that, for the first time, would allow Columbia police officers to communicate directly with officers across the Susquehanna River in York County without the need to be patched in, which causes delays. That purchase takes advantage of a discount that shaved $75,000 off the total cost.

Rationale: Borough Manager Mark Stivers said that, after approval of the police radio purchase, officials determined the need to keep radio equipment consistent with the borough’s public works and code compliance departments and emergency management coordinator. This would allow public works crews to talk to York County during joint special events or if the Route 462/Veterans Memorial Bridge would be closed for any reason.

[Source: LNP]