Baldwin approves emergency radio funding

BALDWIN, Ga. — The Baldwin City Council unanimously approved funding Tuesday for Baldwin’s share of Habersham County’s countywide emergency radio system and amended its school zone speed camera agreement to comply with state requirements.

Both measures passed 5-0.

Emergency radio system

Police Chief Chris Jones said Baldwin’s participation in the countywide radio upgrade is mandatory because the city’s police and fire departments are dispatched through Habersham County 911.

“When they change their radio, it is a requirement if we’re going to operate a police department or fire department,” Jones said.

Jones said Baldwin’s share of the police department’s radio system totaled $102,089.16, covering nine mobile radios for patrol vehicles and 12 portable radios.

He said officers are already using the new radios and described the previous system as unreliable.

“Anybody that’s worked in emergency services in Habersham County can attest to you with the prior radio system. It was minimal at best, very, very dangerous,” Jones said. “The new system … is working well. There’s still bugs in the system. It will take a little while, but it’s much improved and it’s way more reliable.”

Fire Chief Ross Jackson said the fire department’s share totaled $141,932.82, covering six mobile radios, including a base station, and 21 portable radios for firefighters and fire apparatus.

Because the final cost came in below the amount budgeted, Jackson said more than $21,000 will return to the city’s general fund.

Police officials also requested permission to use unspent radio funds from the previous fiscal year to pay cash for the department’s previously approved security camera system rather than finance the purchase.

Jones said doing so would save taxpayers approximately $6,000 in interest.

Councilman Joe Elam summarized the request before the vote, noting the only budget amendment required involved redirecting the police department’s remaining radio funds to the camera project. The council approved the request unanimously.

School camera agreement

The council also approved an amendment to Baldwin’s school zone speed camera agreement with Altumint.

City Attorney Sammy Tomasello said the amendment formally authorizes the company’s online payment processor to communicate with the Georgia Department of Revenue on the city’s behalf regarding unpaid citations and registration holds required under state law.

“This is more procedural at this point,” Tomasello said.

He explained the online system has already been handling those communications, and the amendment simply formalizes the arrangement by designating the payment processor as the city’s authorized representative.

The amendment follows changes to Georgia law governing automated school zone speed enforcement and updates the city’s agreement to reflect those requirements.