Published: February 13, 2008 04:16 pm      

New communications system will be installed

Outdated communications equipment used by the Cleburne police and fire departments will soon be replaced.

Cleburne City Council members Tuesday authorized spending up to $486,455 to replace software and hardware that will provide computer-aided dispatch and other services for both departments.

The current system, installed in 1999, is no longer supported with upgrades and other services by the manufacturer, Police Chief Terry Powell said. With the police and fire departments receiving about 200,000 calls per year, the current, outdated system is ripe for disaster, Powell said.

“It’s not a question of if the system will fail at some point but when,” Powell said. “If it were to crash during a major fire or accident, it could have tragic results.”

Installation of the new equipment, which will come from several vendors, should take about 30 to 60 days. Powell said he expects the new system to remain in use for 10 or more years.

The council also approved Childress Engineers’ fee of $49,000 for engineering services for phase two of the city cemetery street improvement project. The purpose of the project is to resurface streets and repair curbs and drainage problems in city cemeteries.

The cost for phase two of the project is estimated at about $600,000. Because that amount has not been budgeted, the council would need to find and approve a funding source, said Mike Claunch, public services director.

In other news:

zx City Manager Chester Nolen announced the latest royalty check from gas wells on city owned properties totals $699,514.

zx Economic Development Director Jerry Cash said sales tax revenues for January came in at 24 percent above this time last year. Sales tax revenues for the fiscal year are up about 25 percent over last year, Cash said.