Authorize the Supervisor and Clerk to enter into a three (3) year Agreement with Washtenaw County for providing reimbursement of costs for one part-time employee to assist with maintenance of the Washtenaw County 800 MHz radio system, subject to Township Attorney approval.

The 800 MHz Radio Consortium is a cooperative group of users of the Washtenaw County 800 MHz radio system. The part-time radio consortium position is a part-time Pittsfield Township employee, Mark Angott, who continues to perform 800 MHz radio consortium work, maintenance, and project oversight – basically a part-time assistant to the full-time position that is no longer connected to Pittsfield Township. The current agreement with Washtenaw County for the part-time position is due to expire at the end of 2020. The proposed renewal will extend the current agreement, maintaining Mark Angott for the next three years as a Pittsfield Township part-time employee, with the new agreement due to expire December 31, 2023. All costs associated with the part-time employee’s position will be paid by Washtenaw County under the proposed agreement.

The Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety has been involved with managing and maintaining the countywide radio system since 2010, after the Board of Trustees approved successive agreements with Washtenaw County. However, in 2019 the full-time radio management position ended with Pittsfield Township and transferred to the City of Saline, where the full-time radio consortium manager now maintains an office and performs oversight and management of the 800 MHz radio system. There are over 50 different entities using the system, with approximately 2,400 radios. Over the years the system has been managed at different times by the Ann Arbor Police Department, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office, and Huron Valley Ambulance.

The annual reimbursement amounts, listed below, includes the part-time employee's wages, with county-approved wage increases, law-mandated sick leave benefits, FICA, and worker’s compensation, as well as misc. office supply, vehicle maintenance, and fuel costs. 

2021 - $55,125

2022 - $57,881

2023 - $60,775

During the time that radio consortium employees have worked under the auspices of the Department of Public Safety, the partnership has repeatedly proven to be very advantageous for public safety operations and personnel. The 800 MHz radios used by public safety personnel are their most used equipment on a daily basis; their safety and ability to provide safety services to the community are tied to the effective use of the radios and radio system. Given the increased complexity of the 800 MHz radios, the clear benefit of having a member of the consortium staff located in the DPS provides for quick or immediate access to radio system and equipment expertise, resolution of technical difficulties and/or malfunctioning equipment, as well as ongoing radio equipment and system training to public safety personnel, delivered in a shift-convenient and cost effective manner.

The extended agreement will provide reimbursement of costs for the township, in the amount as follows for each year:

• 2021 - $55,125
• 2022 - $57,881
• 2023 - $60,775

There will be some minimal costs associated with office supplies, transportation/fuel, etc.

None