Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer explains the process for funding mobile radios for Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory during a WWFT board meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 7. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory’s board gave their blessing for the territory to apply for and receive a mobile radio grant through American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds at a Dec. 7 meeting.

All emergency service agencies within Kosciusko County are working to move from their current VHF communications system to a new P25 Phase 2, 700 MHz communications system. The grant is available through the Kosciusko American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Committee, county commissioners, and county council.

At a Dec. 3 joint meeting between county commissioners and county council, it was determined that federal COVID-19 relief money would be used to cover a majority of the costs associated with new emergency radios. About $1.9 million will go toward new radios for 25 fire and police departments, as well as the county coroner, county emergency management office, and highway department. Overall improvements include upgrades at the county dispatch center and the installation of three communication towers that will eliminate dead spots in the county.

“The county has been working hard to upgrade emergency communications for four or five years,” said Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer. “This is to provide radios for all emergency services in the county, county fire, police. These are ARPA funds that were approved by the committee. They have spent I think over one million dollars total for radios for the entire county so when they get their towers up, we’ll have a significant improvement in emergency communications.”

Through the grant, WWFT will receive $69,513.60.

WWFT Chief Mike Wilson said they were given permission to apply for the funding by the Board of Public Works and Safety on Dec. 3.

“We’re hoping to test the (communication) towers in March or April,” said Wilson. “All the new console systems are in at central dispatch. As soon as they get the towers built, there will be a 30-day test period and then we will be live.”

“Those towers will create a significant improvement in communications,” said Thallemer. “I would still ask for your (the board’s) permission to apply for this grant, which we’ve received.”

It was also announced that a new fire chief for WWFT will be appointed at the board’s January meeting. Chief Wilson will be retiring effective June 1, 2022.

“Chief Wilson is entering the DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plan) June 1,” said Thallemer. “We are actually in the middle of the hiring process for a new chief. Our intention is to name the new chief at the first of the year. (Wilson) will stay on through his retirement and assist through the transition. We’re still in the process, so there’s nothing to announce yet.”

“It’s been very much an honor to be able to be the fire chief for the territory,” said Wilson. “The board has been excellent and I appreciate everything you’ve done in support of our direction.”

WWFT’s next board meeting is at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10. The board, which holds their meetings on the first Tuesday of every month, is meeting at that time due to a scheduling conflict. All current board members will also continue serving on WWFT’s board in 2022. Oaths of office will be administered at the Jan. 10 meeting.