HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-05-1995 - IX-B ' 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 5, 1995
SUBJECT: Orange County Radio Amateurs Funding Request
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DEPARTMENT Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING YES NO X
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ATTACHMENT(S) INFORMATION CONTACT
Extract from Project Data Packet Nick Waters, ext 3030
(distributed at 5/16/95 BOC meeting) TELEPHONE NUMBER
4/12/95 Emerg Mgmt Director Memo Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Mebane 227-2031
Durham 688-7331
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PURPOSE: To consider a request for funding from Orange County Radio
Amateurs, Inc.
BACKGROUND: At the May 16, 1995 Board of Commissioners' meeting, John
Hughes of Orange County Radio Amateurs asked the Board to consider
providing $8,000 in funding to help complete plans to install new radio
equipment on WUNC-TV' s new television tower. The project background is
contained in a data packet that Mr. Hughes distributed to the Board at
that meeting. Mr. Hughes indicated that needed project funding is
about $8,000 short at this time. Funding totaling $19,500 has
already been secured from the Town of Chapel Hill, UNC Hospitals, and
from various other donors.
In the past several years, Orange County Radio Amateurs have provided
valuable assistance on several occasions to Orange County emergency
personnel involved in managing emergencies. During the 1992
Hillsborough tornado, 1992 simultaneous fires in Chapel Hill at Food
Lion and Intimate Bookstore, and 1993 Southern Bell telephone line
outages in Chapel Hill, the Radio Amateurs provided additional
communications capabilities which greatly enhanced the ability of field
personnel to execute essential coordination. Additional detail
about past cooperation between the Radio Amateurs and Orange County
is included in the previously distributed attached staff memo. The
long term benefit of the installation of equipment on the new WUNC-TV
tower will be more reliable backup communications which in times of
emergency can take some of the burden off of telecommunicators in the
911 Center by redirecting administrative and non-essential radio
transmissions away from tactical radio channels.
The Radio Amateurs receive support from Orange County Emergency
Management, which hosts the Radio Amateurs monthly meetings at the
County' s 911 Center on New Hope Church Road. The County has also
installed an antenna at Emergency Management for the club' s use, and
stores some of the club's equipment at the facility. It is staff's
understanding that Orange County Radio Amateurs will actually retain
ownership of any equipment mounted on the WUNC tower.
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RECOMMNDATION: The Manager recommends that if the Board decides to
fund all or a portion of the requested $8,000 grant, that the money be
allocated from the Commissioners' 1994-95 contingency account.
3
Orange County radio ,qmatcurs, Inc.
1914 New Hope Church Road, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514
Sir or Madam,
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to a group of people in our
community that have been active in helping the various 911 emergency response systems. In 1991
a local group of amateur radio operators (Hams)formed a group that became the Orange County
Radio Amateurs Inc. (OCRA).
OCRA has two main goals in the community.First, the primary task our club is charged with is to
supply emergency communications services within the area for any agency that requests them. Our
achievements in this area have been very satisfactory. We have successfully set up and maintained
a common-channel communication service between the Chapel Hill Fire Department,Red Cross,
and for the 911 emergency management teams on several occasions. We were first called out
during the multiple downtown Chapel Hill fires in September, 1992. We were then asked to set up
sites and services for the Red Cross during the November, 1992, Hillsborough tornado crisis. In
June 1993, we were requested to set up a twenty-four-hour emergency communications system for
a portion of Chapel Hill that had lost all phone service due to a construction worker cutting the
trunk lines.These activities required the services of Hams who volunteered hundreds of hours of
duty while they were needed. In appreciation for these activities in December 1992 we received a
"Resolution of Appreciation"from the Orange County Board of Commissioners and in June,
1993, we received another Proclamation of"Orange County Radio Amateurs, Inc.Day"from the
Chapel Hill mayor.
The second mandate the club is charged with is to maintain an ongoing training system for
new operators. The continued success of this effort is reflected by the addition of over 100 newly
trained Hams in the Orange County area since the program began.
Although we have a problem with our service, we have found a way to solve it. Our
problem is that once the system is set up we are unable to communicate into and out of buildings.
Thus operators must relay information out to the radio operator in the street. The solution to this
problem is simple.We need to install a radio system that will communicate through buildings. We
have designed, built,and installed a small radio system in Chapel Hill to test this idea and it works.
What we really want to implement for the community is a very reliable commercial-grade
emergency back-up system that is capable of providing service for the entire county-wide 911 area,
24 hours a day,year in and year out.
OCRA has initiated a county-wide effort to install a radio system that will communicate
with the whole area. So far we have obtained over$3000 from members for purchase of the
necessary equipment.
4
The University of North Carolina system has responded with efforts from two of their
services. Mr. Eric Munson, CEO of UNC Hospitals, has provided a grant of$8000.00 toward
the purchase of radio equipment that will be placed on the tower. Mr. Harvey Arnold, the
WUNC-TV Associate Director of Engineering, has made arrangements for us to have the back-,up
radio located at 1000 feet on their new 1300-foot TV tower. This guarantees we will be able
support any agency requesting assistance anywhere within the county-wide area in times of crisis.
The above information brings me to the reason you are getting this letter. Because the
whole project when fully funded, will cost about $28,000. We are asking you to consider two
thoughts about this project.
First, would your organization be able to give funds for the purchase of equipment ?
1. By matching funds donated by the UNC Hospital System $8000.00 Grant.
2. By agreeing to purchase need--d pieces of equipment not to exceed$8000.00.
3. By donating any sum approv-d by your management.
Second, if you are unable to participate with a gift at this time would you be willing to
provide us with a letter of endorsement for the project that we could use in our efforts to obtain
further funding from local corporations and sources in the area?
I am proud to be working with a group that really does "put something back into the
community" and I know you will understand when I tell you that ANY participation will be
greatly appreciated. Our goal for this project when it is finished is that it can be said"the whole
community worked on this and got it done!".
Sincerely Yours,
John W. Hughes NORXK
Orange County Radio Amateurs, Inc.
5
Orange County Radio Amateurs, Inc.
Project for Emergency Communication Enhancements and Communication System Development:
Resource and Utilization Document
March 1995
Executive s�mmary:
Urgent funding is requested to support a project for an emergency amateur radio
communication system in the Triangle Area. The University of North Carolina Public TV has given
permission for the Orange County Radio Amateurs, Inc. (OCRA)to place this communications
equipment on the new WUNC tower currently under contruction in Chatham County. The radios
will be placed on a very high platform at approximately1300 feet creating a significant new
communications resource for the area. Both voice and digital modes are planned.
Due to the current construction, placement of equipment on the TV tower is relatively easy.
Yet there are severe time constraints for completing the project by June 1, 1995. If OCRA misses
this deadline, future placement of this equipment is in jeopardy. This is, essentially, a one time
opportunity to implement the necessary equipment and create a new communications system for
the area to support emergency and disaster efforts by the amateur radio community.
The University of North Carolina Hospitals has contributed$8,000 towards the completion of
this project Total funding needs are approximately$28,000. Further funding is requested to meet
the June 1 deadline.A project plan and itemized equipment list is enclosed.
Your timely review of this document is requested.
Data Sheet: Orange County Radio Amateurs, Inc(OCRA).
• Incorporated, North Carolina, 1991;
• Tax exempt status IRS 501(c)3;
• Totally volunteer organization;
• OCRA is a member of ti,1e national amateur radio organization (American Radio Relay League
(ARRL), with approximately 80 years of continuous service);
• Club members are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and are required to
.pass an extensive set of exams for licensure as amateur radio operators;
• .-OCRA is a special services club(ARRL)dedicated to emergency service. This is the only club
of its kind in the state of North Carolina;
• OCRA is part of the ARRL national Amateur Radio Emergency Services(ARES)structure;
• All equipment and radios are maintained and supported by this volunteer group;
• OCRA has a proven track record of emergency service including disaster support;
• OCRA is incorporated into the disaster organization for Orange County and University of
North Carolina Hospitals. It will participate in area wide emergencies and disasters as needed;
• Amateur radio operators have had a long and proud tradition of support during emergencies
and disasters;
Contributors:
University of North Carolina Hospitals $8,000
Private contributions $3,500
Further contributions are pending
Emergency Communication Enhancements and Communication System 6
Appendix A: Itemized Equipment List
Price Quantity Extended Running Total
Repeaters for 442.150/443.475 Mhz
• MSF 5000 UHF Repeater 6,780 1 6,780
• Link Communications Controller 1,200 1 1,200
Autopatch 100 1 100
1/0 interface for remote monitoring 75 1 75
Rack mount 100 1 100
• NEMA- 4 outdoor cabinet 1,000 1 1,000
• Cabinet hardware/configuration 500 1 500
• Hardline, connectors, polyphasers 500 1 500
Communications Specialists CTCSS TS32 67 2 134
Hustler 2/440 antenna (for 443.475Mhz) 400 1 400
Diamond diplexer 200 1 200
Duplexer for 443.475 repeater 900 1 900
Link controller for UNC site 600 1 600
UHF power amplifier 100 watts 2,500 1 2,500
Subtotal 14,989 14,989
Repeater for 53.45 Mhz.
Motorola Micor RF receiver/transmitter 200 1 200
Radio RF deck repackaging 500 1 500
Power supply 12V 50amp 500 1 500
• Antenna: DS 212-3 925 1 925
• Wacom duplexer 1,100 1 11100
• Hardline, connectors, polyphasers 500 1 500
• NEMA-4 outdoor cabinet 1,000 2 2,000
• Cabinet hardware/configuration 500 2 1,000
Subtotal 6,725 21,714
Remote Base and Links:
Motorola Micor UHF 200 2 400
Morotola Micor VHF 200 2 400
Hustler 2M base antenna 400 1 400
Hustler 440 base antenna 600 1 600
Extra controller port 250 •1 250
ICOM IC-281 A 2M remote base (443.475 site) 540 1 540
Hardline, connectors, polyphasers 500 1 500
Subtotal 3,090 24,804
Data link and controllers
PacComm Sprint-2 (9600 baud) 300 2 600
Tiny-2 (1200 baud) 200 1 :200
Extra controller port 250 1 250
Subtotal 1,050 25,854
Contingency funds 10% 2,585 28,439
Total funding needs 28,439
Funds raised to date: 9.000
Additional funding needed 19,439
Notes: = critical items needed by May 15, 1995
A
ORANGE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
P.O. BOX 8181 ! 7
HILLSBOROUGH
NORTH CAROLINA
27278
9-1-1 Communications Emergency Medical Services
24 Hour Warning Point Fire Marshal
732-8161 • 933-2600 Hazardous Materials
Fax Machine 644-3030 • 968-2050
967-9026
April 12, 1995
TO: Rod Visser, Asst Manager
Orange County Manager's Office
FROM: Nick Maters, Directo
RE: Orange County Ratdio `Amateurs, Request
The following information.,is related to the Amateur Radio groups'
request addressed .to-the Chair. I feel the following historical
information may be benef=icial 'in the response to that request.
Sometime in aid-1991,--J was approached-:by;, an Amateur Radio
Operator interested ix becoming ,affiliatek:with -Emergency
Management to provide;:-&-:;"community servicetMe discussed at length
the role such aa`orgasation could".pl-ay, :;the training that would
be required, and iwhen ktheyY would - fit.;.in- response td emergencies.
The operator organi�ted._a_ ari�a11 group .and held, it's°:first
organizational meeting 4f4`2m*r4eec y,Maua4*0wat Readquarters, in
November, 1991. ;Hiaee.- tha h+e"44bership- ha grown to
approximate) 100 : ' ii
y # aRie operai�oca The chub . a participated in
several major events ` ,etel#ahi> g ,at°' nications network to
provide direction and control°'°lr— "Emergency Operations
Center (E.O.C. ) to various field locations. These events include
`z the telephone outage affecting over 400 customers in the southern
part of the county, which lasted for over 4 days. Club members
were strategically placed throughout the affected area, so people
needing access to 9-1-1 could drive to their locations and the
information would be relayed to the S.O.C.
Other activities include two major fire& in Chapel Hill ; and of
course, their contribution during the Hillsborough Tornado. This
club allows a communication net to be established for direction
and control purposes, which decreases the workload in the
Communications Center and keeps administrative type messages off
the emergency radio channels.
Located at 1914 New Hope Church Road • Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516
g
Rod Visser
April 12, 1995
Page Two
The County's contribution to the club to date, has been:
1) staff support (meaning, providing some training and
guidance, providing a repository for their incoming
mail )
2) since it's 11/01/91 inception, the club has met the
first Monday of each month, in the Emergency Management
Training Room. I felt this was justifiable since they
are an intimate part of the emergency management
response family, and more directly tied to this office
than other support agencies.
3) we erected an 85 foot pole at Emergency Management, to
mount their antenna; also, designated a workstation in
the E.O.C. - for their equipment.
I feel these contributions are considerable and should be taken
into account in making a decision on their request. I would like
to see what the County does now to continue, and have no strong
feelings as to whether or not a monetary contribution needs to be
made.
I understand from my discussions with John Hughes, the Club has
received contributions from UNC Hospitals ($8,000) ; the Town of
Chapel Hill ($8,000) ; small private contributors ($3,500) ; and
has several requests pending, including major utilities, other
municipalities and some major industries. The immediate need has
been met and they are still approximately eight thousand dollars
($8,000) short of the total project goal .
_ s