Muskegon County Central Dispatch has successfully gone digital. The move from an analog dispatch system to the new digital 800 MHz system took place without issues early Tuesday morning.
The approximately $30 million project started with planning back in 2016. In May 2019, Muskegon County voters approved an increase in the monthly 911 surcharge that will remain in place until 2032. The new surcharge rate per line is $2.75. Currently 850 of the Motorola portable units are in service. Those radios have been distributed to every police and fire department in the county and also to ambulance providers.
Over the next six months, fixed dash mount radios will be placed in every ambulance, fire truck and police cruiser in the county.
"We're very thankful to be on the air today," said Muskegon County Central Dispatch Executive Director Jason Wolford.