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During the Troup County Board of Commissioners work session on Tuesday, the county discussed a request from the fire department to purchase mobile data terminals for its vehicles.

EMA Director Zac Steele explained that as the county and city prepare to upgrade their public safety technology with the new radio system and computer-aided dispatch system, the fire department would like to add mobile data terminals to their vehicles.

Steele requested that the mobile computers be added to all eight first-out trucks, seven fire engines, and the ladder truck, as well as the three squad vehicles and all five administrative vehicles, including the battalion chief truck. Steele suggested four Toughbook laptop computers for the mobile command bus as well, which can also be used at the Emergency Operations Center.

Steele said they received a quote for the data terminals, including all needed parts, which came in at $102,079.24. 

“This covers all 24 data terminals, as well as all the mounting equipment that needs to be put in these vehicles,” Steele said.

TCFD requested two different types of mobile terminals. Sixteen of the terminals in vehicles will have removable tablets, which will allow EMTs to detach and bring inside as needed. 

Steele said the terminals will help with navigation and provide emergency contact information during calls. The computers will also integrate with the new CAD system to let dispatchers know where each vehicle is and improve response times.

Commissioner Ellis Cadenhead questioned how the terminals would communicate, noting that with the current Hurricane Helene disaster in North Carolina, many areas are out of cell phone coverage. 

Steele said these devices likely will not work without cell communication, but that only happens during a major disaster. 

 Cadenhead suggested that the money might be better used for VHF radios, which could be used as backups when cellphone service is down.

“I think it could go either way. This makes more sense to me, operationally, day to day for what we do, day in and day out,” Steele said. 

“One thing we did add to our equipment after the West Point tornado was five of the Southern Link device cell phones,” Steele said. “It’s the same system Georgia Power uses … so when the cell phones go out, we have five of those internally that can be passed out.”

County Manager Eric Mosley said that they could investigate purchasing some VHF radios as backups, but these computers would be more for non-disasters and day-to-day operations.

“Based on what fire department’s currently asking for, I think it certainly provides a higher level of care for our citizens 99% of the time, but there is that 1% certainly out there that happens,” Mosley said.