FAIRMONT, Minn. -
After working at the Martin County Sheriff's Department for over ten years, head dispatcher Joanne Russenberger knows her job in an out.
But with the county switching to a new ARMER radio system, things will soon change.
Sheriff Jeff Markquart says, "Dispatchers are going to have their hands full in there, and their going to be able to run the whole show."
Russenberger says, "We'll be changing those listening skills a little."
A federal mandate required the county to upgrade their current system by January first, but after learning about a price hike on the portable radios going into place Thursday, the county gave them the go ahead.
Markquart says, "Approximately $400 a radio so it's a significant increase."
The cost of the 475 radios for law enforcement, EMS, and fire will still cost around $1.1 million, but Sheriff Jeff Markquart says it will be worth it.
Markquart says, "There won't be as many people talking over each other."
Right now the radio system Martin County uses is kind of like the old party lines where multiple people used one line, accept it's multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the county using 1 channel, which means things can get a little hectic.
With the new system, each accident, emergency, or car chase will have it's own channel.
Markquart says, "Dispatchers isolate those places and specifically talk to people on scene without having to hear what's going on in other portions of the community"
Russenberger says, "Thy won't have to wait for their turn on the radio."
The orders for the new radios have been placed...and Russenberger and the rest of the county will start using them this fall.
