WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners are expected to authorize an agreement between state officials and the county for the proposed Multi-Agency Radio Communication System tower.

The new system is supposed to enable safety-service departments to communicate clearly over long distances and in all types of weather.

In the proposal, the state and county each will provide $875,000 for the construction of the radio tower, an associated building for MARCS and all associated equipment needed to make it fully operational.

The state is expected to pay for the tower and the county will pay for the equipment, according to Commissioner Denny Malloy, board president.

Malloy said the county is working to determine if American Rescue Plan funds can be used to pay for the county’s share. Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa described Tuesday’s vote as the first step to move the project forward.

“We can procure the equipment and the shelter for the project,” Cantalamessa said. “Whether it will come from state purchasing or directly from the state, we need to have the agreement in place and then ask for ARP money to cover the costs.”

Malloy said dead zones in the current system have public safety implications for first responders and dispatchers.

There is a tower in place to serve the eastern part of the county, but it is too short to be fully effective because it is blocked by a hill.