By Ramell Taylor
Oberlin Herald – August 28, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – September 6, 2013
Decatur County commissioners agreed last week to look at ways to improve radio reception for emergency crews after being told fire units had no reception when trying to help during an accident near Lyle.
Last Tuesday, Fire Chief Bill Cathcart told commissioners the only way he could get in touch with the dispatcher from the wreck scene August 18 was to call the ambulance director on his cell phone.
“I called Ambulance Director Linda Manning,” he said “who was in Colorado at the time, I told her what was going on, and Linda had to call the dispatcher to find out who was on ambulance duty.”
Mr. Cathcart said Ms. Manning called him back with the cell phone number of the person on ambulance duty and the ambulance was able to take the victim directly to the Oberlin airport, where a doctor and a medic were waiting to take care of him while flying him to a hospital in Kearney, Nebraska.
“We’ve talked with Flanigan Communications out of Norton,” he said, “and Gary Flanigan recommended that we put repeaters on top of two towers to improve the range on the radio signal.
The commissioners said they would have to look into putting up new towers or leasing space on existing towers. Road Supervisor Tim Stallman recommended that the commissioners have Mr. Flanigan come out to test where the bad spots are before deciding where to put repeaters.
The commissioners said the problem needs to be resolved as soon as possible and asked Mr. Cathcart to get bids on signal testing and the cost of repeaters.
In other business, the commissioners:
Heard Mr. Cathcart’s request to buy a new fire truck with rescue attachments for the Oberlin station. He estimated that the truck would cost around $150,000, adding that the fire department has the money in the budget for this year. The commissioners told him to get bids for them to look at during next Tuesday’s meeting.
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