Radio resolution gets committee support

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department’s request for radios that operate on the county’s new simulcast system received a 3-1 vote of support from the Public Property Committee on Wednesday. The cost to replace the department’s older radios that don’t operate with the simulcast system is $214,408, according to Sheriff Randy Wright. Bonduel and Stockbridge-Munsee police departments are looking at having to replace older radios, as well. Bonduel Police Chief Todd Chaney told the committee that new radios for his department will cost $15,000, which is not in his budget. Supervisor Bert Huntington, who voted against the resolution, said he was uncomfortable voting on the matter before the Finance Committee determines where the money would come from. However, the Finance Committee has a history of taking no action on fund requests until the home committees considers them. Wright expressed concern that the Public Safety Committee could be playing a dangerous game if it took no action. “This is a serious issue, boys,” Wright said. “You’ve been told about it. You’ve been warned about it, and now we’re sitting here wondering whether it goes to Finance first or not.” Originally, the funding was expected to come exclusively from the general fund. On Tuesday, though, the Tribal Affairs Committee agreed to ask the Capital Improvement Projects Committee to move $86,400 of money received from the Ho-Chunk Nation to offset the impact to the general fund. Supervisor Ken Capelle expressed dismay that members of the Public Safety Committee were questioning the urgent need to replace the radios. He pointed out that the Tribal Affairs Committee had no dissent on making the radios a priority. “Every member of that committee felt exactly like the sheriff feels,” Capelle said. “We cannot let these guys hang out there, and if there’s no communication, someone is going to get seriously hurt, and it could be a citizen. If we don’t start waking up and supporting the sheriff, there’s something wrong.” The Finance Committee will take up the issue Aug. 19.