Gonzales County approves $7,000 per radio for first responders

Gonzales County will be giving each first responder agency in the county $7,000 per handheld or mobile unit radio requested after commissioners approved that amount Monday, May 23.

The money comes from American Rescue Plan Act funds Gonzales County received from the federal government in 2021, as well as new funds that are expected to be paid this June. Emergency management officials have determined the county will need to fund a total of 282 radios, which includes 151 handheld units and 131 mobile radios, to be able to include every law enforcement agency and fire department as well as EMS and county road crews.

The agencies will be able to choose which dealer they wish to purchase their radios from — Victoria Communications Systems and Motorola or the Lower Colorado River Authority and L3Harris. Any money left over after purchasing the requested number of radios can be used to fund other public safety needs.

“That is one of the main reasons for the interlocal agreement is so the county does not have to track anything,” County Auditor Becky Weston said. “Basically, if you will, we're donating or gifting funds to these agencies. The interlocal is saying ‘This is what we expect you to purchase, and if there is anything left over, you are okay to purchase public safety equipment. We will not track what you purchase.’

“It’s up to these agencies how they track it but the interlocal says they are in agreement to purchase exactly what we are gifting it for. But we also leave them the option if there is anything left over.”

However, the money does come with at least one stipulation. While the county will be making payments directly to each volunteer fire department, rather than to Gonzales County Emergency Service District No. 2, any agency which disbands within the next 10 years will be required to turn in all radio units purchased with county funds to the ESD as a condition of an interlocal funding agreement.

“My only concern is, and it was brought to me by a couple of folks, God forbid, whatever happened, say if Ottine or one of the other departments dissolved and we issue radios to them,” County Judge Pat Davis said. “We probably need to have something stating that those radios will go back to the county or to the ESD so they don’t become lost out there.”

Gonzales Fire Chief Wade Zella said the fire departments already have a clause in their contracts with ESD No. 2 which states “anything that's purchased with ESD funding, if the department dissolves, it becomes the property of the ESD.” However, this would not apply to the money given by the county for radios unless that clause was added into the interlocal agreement.

Commissioners also approved a budget amendment for the purchase of radios for the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management, constables and road and bridge precincts while also approving an interlocal contract between the Sheriff’s Office and LCRA that will allow GCSO to use that network during Float Fest, which will be held July 23-24.