On May 18, 2026, the Board of Commissioners approved, by a 4-0 vote, Change Order No. P3905-CO-006 with Communications International for the P25 compliant radio system project.
Historical recordHabersham Countyarchived · approved
Habersham County commissioners approve change order for P25 radio system project
The countywide emergency radio upgrade, tied to 911 and EMA operations, has faced tower and antenna issues that pushed back its rollout.
Latest
May 18, 2026: Change Order No. P3905-CO-006 with Communications International for P25 Compliant Radio System Project
At a glance
What this means now
The story
The upgrade to the county's 800 MHz radio system was included in the county's fiscal year 2025 budget, approved by the Board of Commissioners in July 2024. A later county financial report noted the upgrade had originally been awarded in fall 2022.
At a February 2025 planning retreat, the county's EMA/E911 Director gave the Board of Commissioners a status update on the SPLOST-funded radio system project.
By a December 2025 departmental report, drive testing of the new P25 system had been completed in September with better-than-predicted results, and only one building, Lindsay Window South, had failed an in-building coverage test, prompting plans to install a booster there. But the report also identified quality-control issues with antenna systems at new tower locations and a microwave data hop problem at the 911 center requiring a new 160-foot tower, which was pushing deployment back, possibly to February. Radio dispatch console and user training had already been held at the 911 center the week of November 17. The Board of Commissioners received an update on the new radio system at its December 15, 2025 meeting.
On May 18, 2026, the Board of Commissioners approved, by a 4-0 vote, Change Order No. P3905-CO-006 with Communications International for the P25 compliant radio system project.
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
DiscusseddiscussedP25 radio system coverage drive testing and in-building testing
Drive testing was completed in September with better than predicted results.
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P25 radio system coverage drive testing and in-building testing
Drive testing was completed in September with better than predicted results.
DiscusseddiscussedP25 radio system deployment delayed, possibly to February
The identified issues are going to push back deployment of the new
system possibly to February.
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P25 radio system deployment delayed, possibly to February
The identified issues are going to push back deployment of the new system possibly to February.
DiscusseddiscussedLindsay Window South building failed in-building radio coverage test; booster to be installed
Lindsay Window South
was the only building that failed testing. An in-building booster will be installed
to provide in-building coverage as part of the project.
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Lindsay Window South building failed in-building radio coverage test; booster to be installed
Lindsay Window South was the only building that failed testing. An in-building booster will be installed to provide in-building coverage as part of the project.
DiscusseddiscussedAntenna system quality control issues found at new tower locations
A review of the antenna systems at the new tower locations revealed
some quality control issues.
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Antenna system quality control issues found at new tower locations
A review of the antenna systems at the new tower locations revealed some quality control issues.
DiscusseddiscussedP25 radio dispatch console and radio user training at 911 center
Radio dispatch console training and radio user training was held at the 911 center the week of November 17th.
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P25 radio dispatch console and radio user training at 911 center
Radio dispatch console training and radio user training was held at the 911 center the week of November 17th.
DiscusseddiscussedNew 160-foot radio tower needed at 911 center to fix microwave data hop issue
A new 160-foot tower will need to be constructed at the 911 center to
correct the identified issue.
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New 160-foot radio tower needed at 911 center to fix microwave data hop issue
A new 160-foot tower will need to be constructed at the 911 center to correct the identified issue.
ApprovedconfirmedChange Order No. P3905-CO-006 with Communications International for P25 compliant radio system project
Change Order No P3905-CO-006 With Communications International for P25
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Change Order No. P3905-CO-006 with Communications International for P25 compliant radio system project
Change Order No P3905-CO-006 With Communications International for P25
Appeared on agendaproposedChange Order No P3905-CO-006 with Communications International for P25 Compliant Radio System Project
Consider/Approve Change Order No P3905-CO-006 With Communications International for P25
Compliant Radio System Project
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Change Order No P3905-CO-006 with Communications International for P25 Compliant Radio System Project
Consider/Approve Change Order No P3905-CO-006 With Communications International for P25 Compliant Radio System Project
ApprovedconfirmedChange Order No. P3905-CO-006 with Communications International for P25 Compliant Radio System Project
Consider/Approve Change Order No P3905-CO-006 With Communications International for P25
Compliant Radio System Project
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Change Order No. P3905-CO-006 with Communications International for P25 Compliant Radio System Project
Consider/Approve Change Order No P3905-CO-006 With Communications International for P25 Compliant Radio System Project
DiscusseddiscussedUpdate on new county radio system
Update on New Radio System: Melanie Bellinger, Interim E911 /EMA Director and Tom Priddy,
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Update on new county radio system
Update on New Radio System: Melanie Bellinger, Interim E911 /EMA Director and Tom Priddy,
Appeared on agendaproposedUpdate on new emergency radio system
Update on New Radio System: Melanie Bellinger, Interim E911/EMA Director and Tom Priddy, Radio System Administrator
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Update on new emergency radio system
Update on New Radio System: Melanie Bellinger, Interim E911/EMA Director and Tom Priddy, Radio System Administrator
mentionedunknown800 MHz emergency radio system upgrade for E-911
The upgrade to the new 800 MGZ Radio System was awarded in Fall of 2022.
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800 MHz emergency radio system upgrade for E-911
The upgrade to the new 800 MGZ Radio System was awarded in Fall of 2022.
DiscusseddiscussedStatus update on SPLOST-funded countywide radio system project
2. Status of Current SPLOST Projects:
a. Radio System Lynn Smith, EMA/E911 Director
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Status update on SPLOST-funded countywide radio system project
2. Status of Current SPLOST Projects: a. Radio System Lynn Smith, EMA/E911 Director
DiscusseddiscussedSPLOST-funded countywide Radio System project status
Radio System Lynn Smith, EMA/E911 Director
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SPLOST-funded countywide Radio System project status
Radio System Lynn Smith, EMA/E911 Director
Approvedunknown800 MHz emergency radio system upgrade
The upgrade to the new 800 MGZ Radio System
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800 MHz emergency radio system upgrade
The upgrade to the new 800 MGZ Radio System
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