Washington Township Trustee Cathy Benko asked the Starke County Commissioners Tuesday night to help fix radio communication issues for the firefighters.
She commented that there have been several calls missed due to VHF radio problems. She said the firefighters are not getting the tones when dispatchers call for their assistance. She noted there have been times when they are at the fire station and the tones are not received and the siren is not functional.
Benko said J&K Communications representatives said they reportedly fixed the problems, but there are ongoing issues. The problems have been ongoing for several years.
“Now I don’t know what you folks would do, but I feel that the taxpayers, the people of Starke County, deserve better,” stated Benko.
Starke County Council President Dave Pearman, who is on the Starke County Communications Committee, said he will go to the fire department and observe the issues happening there and report back to the Communications Committee to possibly determine a solution. He told Benko he will report findings to her.
Pearman added that there have been problems with radios from the beginning and it needs to be remedied. Past issues have been reported by the Koontz Lake Fire Department, Bass Lake Fire Department, North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department, and San Pierre Fire Department. Pearman encouraged the commissioners to have J&K Communications representatives to come in and give a report at the next meeting.
Commissioner Mark Gourley asked if the Starke County Communications Committee would be able to find alternative options. Matt Noonan, who is also on the Starke County Communications Committee, said it would be challenge as there are not many vendors to choose from to contract with at this time.
The commissioners will ask J&K Communications to appear at the next meeting to give an update and see what can be done with these issues.
