Monticello, NY – Sullivan County will receive nearly $1 million from New York State for emergency communications, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced.
A State Interoperable Communications Grant of $757,308 – funded from surcharges on cellphone bills – will be used to enhance the County’s brand new emergency communications system, which began operations just last year.
“While the new radio system has significantly improved radio coverage for many of our first responders,” said 911 Coordinator Alex Rau, “we will continue to evaluate areas where we may be able to fill in coverage and improve interoperability between first-response agencies. In addition, the funding will be used to support the maintenance costs associated with the new radio network.”
A Public Safety Answering Points Grant of $167,204 will go towards the 911 Communications Center as a reimbursement for call-taking and dispatching expenses.
“Both grants are welcome and will help us continue to update and maintain our public safety system Countywide,” noted District 5 Legislator Terri Ward, chair of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee. “The well-being of both first responders and our citizens requires us to make sometimes very large expenditures, and the State’s assistance in shouldering these costs is much appreciated.”
A total of $55 million is being distributed to municipalities Statewide between these two grant programs.
“In an emergency, every second counts, and these funds will help ensure our first responders have access to the best and most up-to-date communications equipment, enabling them to get the information they need to quickly respond,” remarked Governor Cuomo.
