Carbon County’s dispatcher radio consoles are getting a much-needed upgrade.

The county commissioners on Thursday approved a proposal with Radio Maintenance Inc. of Reading for the replacement of seven Motorola Gold Elite 911 dispatcher radio consoles. The units, which are 13 years old, will be replaced with Catalyst consoles at a cost of $389,386.80.

Gary Williams, 911 director, said that the reason for the replacements is that the Motorola consoles are at their end-of-life in September.

The consoles, Williams said, are “a vital link” and how dispatchers talk via radio to fire, police and EMS, as well as surrounding 911 communications centers and area hospitals.

The new equipment will be purchased through the state Costars contract and installed over a six-month period.

Rapid Rehousing

The commissioners also approved a subcontract for the 2017 Emergency Solutions Grant Program through June 30, 2019.

The grant gives the Carbon County Action Committee for Human Services $22,493 and Family Promise of Carbon County $7,507 for Rapid Rehousing services.

In October, the county applied for $90,000 under this grant for both Rapid Rehousing and Homelessness Prevention Assistance programs through the two entities.

The Rapid Rehousing program targets four groups: homeless families with children who are residing in the Family Promise shelters and either qualify for public or section 8 housing via a “homeless priority” or now have or will soon have adequate income/resources to afford future rent and household expenses; homeless families fleeing from domestic violence; homeless disabled veterans or other homeless disabled people and families; and other homeless people or families referred by the Carbon County Housing Authority as anticipated to qualify for public housing or section 8 housing in the near future.