Ambulance services won’t get Linn County funds for new radios

Ambulance services in Linn County are on their own when it comes to buying radios to match the county's new communications system.

County supervisors decided at this morning's work session to draft a letter to local ambulance services, most of which are non-profit but privately operated.

“We can't use government funds to purchase equipment for a private entity,” said District 3 Supervisor Ben Rogers, D-Cedar Rapids.

That leaves it up to each agency to fund the radios compatible with the new $18.2 million system developed by the county, Cedar Rapids, and Marion. The system, required to meet a Jan. 1, 2013 federal deadline to free space on the broadcast spectrum for cell phones and wireless devices, will allow police, fire, and emergency response crews to communicate on the same system for the first time.

Rogers said the board's letter was prompted by inquiries from the Lisbon-Mount Vernon and Center Point ambulance services.

The county's E911 Board will fund the new equipment for local fire departments, which are governed by public fire districts. Rogers said the ambulance services will be able to buy their new equipment under the county's contract using their own funds.

Cedar Rapids-based Area Ambulance Service has budgeted about $150,000 for new radios in 12 ambulances and about 24 hand-held units, executive director Keith Rippy said. The service, which covers about 250 square miles centered on the metro area, is also a non-profit, funded by user fees.

“It doesn't present any budgetary challenge to us,” said Rippy.  “We're very much in support of this whole project. It's critical that all of the agencies be able to communicate on the same system. We could have certainly benefitted form being on the same sysem back in 2008,” when the Cedar River flooded.