Firm complains about 911 radio proposal

The co-owner of JCS Tel-Link has formally objected to Cape Girardeau County Commission's decision to pursue a 911 upgrade with St. Louis-based Warner Communication.

No contract has been signed, but the county's 911 Advisory Board is due to begin negotiating details of Warner's proposal.

In May, the county took delivery on proposals for the 911 radio dispatch system upgrade and move from three companies: Warner Communications Corp., E.F. Johnson Velocity and the Cape Girardeau-based JCS Tel-Link, a Motorola franchise dealer. The equipment will be installed in the city of Cape Girardeau's new communications center.

On Thursday, JCS Tel-Link's co-owner, Reg Swan, voiced a series of concerns at the commissioners meeting. He presented a binder's worth of notes, listing objections to Warner's plan. He said one piece of digital equipment that Warner's proposal states is nonexistent is being used in at least three places in Missouri -- Cape Girardeau, Scott County and Poplar Bluff.

He also said language used in the county's request for proposal -- such as 550 instances of words and phrases such as "must include," "shall" and "must" -- were specific enough that the county was technically asking for a bid, not a proposal.

Warner's request for 32 exceptions to the county's specifications is one of the "huge issues," Swan said. Another concern, he said, was Warner's lack of references for installing and working with the Tait-brand radio equipment.

Swan said he was confident that the JCS proposal, though "substantially higher" in cost, was "the only solution for your request for proposal."

Swan said his company could provide more local support.

"These are not apples and apples. We are talking about the safety of this community," he said.

Steve Guller, vice president of Warner Communications, told the board he had not yet read Swan's critique of Warner's bid but planned to.

"We're most concerned about maintaining the credibility of our organization," Warner told the commissioners. He emphasized his company's ability to respond quickly to technical service calls as well as the expertise of his employees.

Warner submitted two bids, he said, one meeting the county's specifications and another at a lower price with different options. He emphasized the technical expertise of Warner's 25 employees and said any service calls would be answered "by a human being," one of three people who could address concerns about technology or subcontractors.

Mark Hasheider, assistant city of Cape Girardeau fire chief and emergency operations director, praised both companies for attending the meeting. But Hasheider, a member of the county's 911 Advisory Board, which evaluated each company's proposals, suggested JCS do the same in-depth evaluation of all the proposals.

"While we looked for the best solution, we also looked at what is affordable to us," he said. "We all would like to drive around in the best vehicle possible; however, our pocketbooks can sometimes not afford those items."

Dick Knaup, the county's emergency operation's director, also thanked both vendors for attending Thursday's meeting, adding, "yes, dollar signs did play a majority" role in the decision to negotiate with Warner.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said the commissioners would take the information under advisement.

"Most of you know my technology level of understanding, but I do know how to read," he said, tapping the report delivered by JCS.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127

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Cape County 911 radio equipment discussion

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