Wadesboro invests in fire, police department upgrades

WADESBORO — The Wadesboro Town Council agreed to invest in updating the fire department’s air tanks and the town’s radios during its monthly meeting on Sept. 14.

Planning ahead, Town Manger David Edwards knew the self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) used by the fire department were nearing their end of a ten-year life cycle. SCBA equipment allows the department to go into heavy smoke fires while still being able to breathe.

Edwards applied for grants to help fund the new SCBA tanks and on the first try, the town received about $238,000.

On Sept. 14, the council agreed to invest another $42,301 into purchasing the needed SCBA tanks. Of that money, the town will get back about $18,000 from sales tax.

Edwards explained how the state government encourages spending in North Carolina and that, because the SCBA tanks will be purchased within the state, the town will be reimbursed the sales tax from the purchase of the new equipment. Depending on when the town orders the SCBA tanks, the $18,000 will return to the town by June and the end of the fiscal year.

Each capital project acts as it’s own separate bank account. The money Council transfers from the general fund to this SCBA Replacement Capital Project Fund can only be used to purchase the tanks. These separate projects and accounts helps keep the money organized and clean, according to Edwards.

The Town Council also approved moving forward with the “Radio Upgrade Capital Project Fund” in which Wadesboro will be ordering new radios for the police and fire departments.

The grant will cover $220,000 of the radios and the town will spend up to $76,000, but it will most likely be less as the town will order in bulk with the county. Edwards believes the town will need to invest between $40,000 and $50,000 for this upgrade.

Each radio is about $5,000, according to Edwards, but thanks to the CARES Act, the town finally has enough money to fund this radio system — a system nearly two decades out of date.

“The hand-held, two-way radios are used to dispatch our fire department and police department, as well as being able to talk to each other,” Edwards said.

The current system is only at 400 hertz, but it was after 9/11 when the federal government highly recommended all public safety move to 800 hertz, according to Edwards.

The county is just now getting a 800 hertz radio tower and radios, allowing capability among other municipalities.

“Thank goodness for this money that we can actually get a little up to speed and hopefully respond better and communicate better,” Edwards said.