HUBBARD TOWNSHIP — Preliminary talks about improving communication between communities have begun, as first responders are looking into a new radio system.

As part of her report at Tuesday’s regular meeting, police Chief Brenda Freeman reported that Eagle Joint Fire District Chief Ron Stanish reached out to the department, telling her that they’re looking into new Multi-Agency Radio Communication Systems after having issues with their old ones.

MARCS is a 700/800 MHz radio and data network that utilizes trunked technology to provide statewide interoperability and digital clarity throughout the state and a 10-mile radius outside of it, providing a secure connection for first responders.

“The fire department was able to get special pricing through Motorola; for combining working with the township PD, the city PD and then themselves, the state of Ohio gives a discount of 27% for emergency services,” Freeman said. “And Motorola is offering us an additional 13%, which is unheard of — I’ve never seen it actually that low.”

Freeman said she’s received a quote from Motorola for 10 portable radios and 10 in-car units, adding that they’ll also provide two trial portables for testing around the township.

She said officials would have to agree to the deal by March 17 to lock it in.

Freeman said she would test the radio system with the fire department to seek out any dead spots in communication between the two communities, adding that she was sure officials would have further discussions because the proposal was new.

Freeman said it would cost $127,000 to purchase the radios outright without Motorola’s 13% discount and $97,000 with the discount in play, adding that there would be an option for a three, five or seven-year lease-to-own program.

She said she had a problem when people talked about getting quotes on different devices, noting cheaper ones tend to have more issues.

“Communication is the most important thing for us, and we’ve had a problem with communication since I can ever remember — at least since I’ve been working here. Trying to get out on the radios,” Freeman said. “A lot of people do the portables, but I feel it is a great necessity to have it in as a portable and in the cruisers.”

“God forbid that you’re struggling for your life, or you’re in a pursuit or a chase or something happens; your portable falls off and you have nothing to go to when you get into your car for communication.”

Freeman said she would have to check and see if the devices were upgraded over the course of a lease, but added that they all had five-year warranties.

Stanish, who was in the audience, said they found out two weeks ago that Motorola was proprietary, in response to Trustee Jason Tedrow asking if the fire department had communications issues with off-brand devices in structures.

“There’s a setting in our radios now that you can go ahead and turn that off, and it should work like a Motorola,” Stanish said. We had five radios come back this morning that were reprogrammed to get (to) Trumbull Hill Tower.”

Freeman said dispatchers will still patch the police department through during emergencies or requests for backup, if the township chooses not to pursue the radios — but that support could end, too.

“Everybody’s gonna be on (MARCS), and you can hear a huge difference in clarity of talking and stuff on there, and we can’t hear nobody no more once they go over,” Freeman said. “Like, we can’t hear Liberty — once you go digital, we have no communications as far as listening to them.”

Stanish said the EJFD was nearly the last department to switch to MARCS — echoing the possibility of the patch being pulled at any time.