Scott Harmon, vice chair of Joint Emergency Communications Operations Board (JECOB), which acts as an advisory board to the county concerning the Emergency Communications Center (ECC/911), addressed Fiscal Court Tuesday telling of the need for a new county-wide digital radio system.

Harmon said the current analog system was overloaded and law enforcement, ambulance service and firefighters were not getting through to the ECC or each other at times because the frequencies were too crowded.

Harmon brought with him Kevin Yaden, a representative from Motorola, who has been talking to JECOB and the ECC for weeks about upgrading the system.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, all 911/emergency technology will have to be digital by 2011.

This deadline, in addition to the county’s outdated and overloaded system, is why JECOB is appealing to the court for help. Harmon said something is going to have to be done – and soon – before someone’s life is endangered.

According to Harmon, emergency services and law enforcement sometimes have to wait in line for radio contact, which could cost a life. Harmon, who also serves as Auburn’s chief of police, said if he is alone and makes a traffic stop and it turns bad, he will need help immediately and wants to be able to hit the switch and get right through to someone.

Harmon said Yaden of Motorola has been working on a platform system created by Motorola that will allow for the county to purchase the system a reasonable cost as well as a way to build onto the system when needed.

Harmon asked the court for their authorization in allowing JECOB to move forward in trying to find funding options and finding a vendor for the system. The court agreed unanimously.

Magistrate Jo Orange agreed the system was old and has been a problem for years.

Another change the court will be making soon is replacing the three outdated dispatch stations and possibly putting in a fourth station to handle overflow when the new ambulance service takes over this year.