Franklin County e911/EMS Director Calls for New Digital Radio System

Franklin County 911/EMS Director Terry Harris is asking the County to consider funding some new equipment and resources.

At their work session this week, Harris said the number of calls to e911 continues to grow.

“In 2018, Franklin County 911 answered 58,218 calls. That’s 168 calls per day,” he said.

Harris said that works out to 159 calls a day to e911 in 2018.  So far, in 2019, Harris said calls to e911 total 41,024 – almost 155 calls a day.

Harris said because of the ever-increasing number of e911 calls, it’s time to switch to a new radio system.

“The one issue I see is our radio system in Franklin County. We’re still on the old analog system, and digital systems are what the future holds. All the 911’s in surrounding counties are on a digital system. When they narrow-banded our frequencies a few years ago that really cut our power in half. Now, we have a lot interference with our radio system.”

Harris told the Board, however, that the switch to a digital system would be expensive.

On the EMS side, Harris said Franklin County EMS responded to 4,703 calls in 2018.

Of that, he said 65% were taken to St. Mary Sacred Heart, up from previous years, and the other 35% were transported out of the county.

So far, this year, 3448 or about 28 calls more than they expect to have at year’s end from last year.

Harris said that means they are quickly running short of the number of ambulances needed to adequately handle the call volume.

Terry Harris3 trt: 23 oc: runnin’ four

“The average for an ambulance in any county is 1,000 calls per vehicle. We have four med units. Once you get to 4,000 calls, by statistics, you’re supposed to add another truck. We’re 731 calls past that, and we’re still running four,” Harris said.

Harris said if call for ambulance service continues to increase, a fifth ambulance will have to be added to either the Royston or Lavonia EMS stations.

Despite the increased call volume, Harris said, so far the four new ambulances they do have are holding up well.

After hearing from Harris, County Manager Beth Thomas said she will try to find monies to fund a new e911 radio system.

“We’ve been performing very well on our SPLOST funds,” Thomas told the Board. “As we get towards the middle of that, thinking about the future, what are we going to do with those excess funds. It would not be a bad idea to consider some of those SPLOST excess funds for this new digital system not only for e911, but would also benefit the Sheriff’s office and the Fire department. Moving to digital is something we’re going to have to do.”

No vote was taken after hearing from Harris, but Commission Chair noted he’s received positive input from the public on Franklin County EMT’s.