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MABAS Communications Committee DRAFT Meeting Minutes |
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I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. at the Lisle Village Hall. Present were committee members Paul Maplethorpe, Round Lake; Dave Dato, Wauconda; Steve Rauter, Lisle-Woodridge; John Lozar, DuComm; Bill Bouma, Mt. Pleasant; David Riddle; Channahon; Bob Mierop, Bolingbrook; Greg Riddle, IFCA; Dennis Higgins, Livingston County. Also present from Motorola, Inc. were Joe Galvin, Starcom Sales Mgr.; Brian Wasielewski, Starcom SystemEngineer; Rich Oherron, Starcom System Manager; and Ray Hill, Sales Rep.
II. Approve Prior Meeting Minutes
Chief Bouma corrected the spelling of STARCOM21.
D/C Rauter moved to approve the August 17, 2004 meeting minutes as corrected. Second by Chief Bouma. All AYES; motion carried.
III. ITTF Mobiles (Frequencies)
Chief Dato reported that Central Management Services issued a RFP for 2800 VHF Mobiles for the interoperability project. The ISPERN Governing Board has concerns about the ISPERN frequency being programmed into non-police radios. Discussion ensued concerning the need for local frequencies, zoned operation, V-Tach frequencies, MABAS frequencies, Med Channels, Etc. It was suggested that members forward their ideas to Chief Dato.
IV. IREACH
Chief Dato reported n the September IREACH Board meeting that he attended.
a. POD Hospitals Several members questioned the need for hospitals to have base station access to IREACH. A consensus was reached that hospitals don’t need IREACH. The Committee questioned whether POD hospitals need IREACH.
b. Tollway Statement The IREACH Board requested that the intended use of the IREACH frequency be clarified.
c. Medical Helicopters The IREACH Board is worried about overloading the frequency at disaster scenes. Chief Dato explained the Committee’s position and the IREACH Board seemed to understand.
V. MERCI Base Stations
The need to assist IDPH with the hospital MERCI base station initiative was discussed. It was agreed to invite Greg Scott to the November Committee meeting.
VI. Gibson Area Ambulance (154.295 MHz)
It has been learned that the Gibson Area Ambulance service is using 154.295 MHz for dispatch with a repeater. Chief Maplethorpe agreed to look into the matter further.
VII. Old Business · Rock Island County Chief Maplethorpe reported that he has had several discussions with representatives from Rock Island County concerning their use of IFERN for routine dispatch. A meeting will be set up in the near future to address the issues.
· Randolph County Chief Dato talked to representatives from Randolph County concerning their use of IFERN for routine dispatch. They were asked to conduct an inventory of radio equipment.
· 154.280 (New Lenox) Chief Riddell reported that he spoke with a Captain at New Lenox about their use of White Fireground for station alerting. The captain indicated that 154.280 was the only frequency that worked with their Zetron system. B/C Mierop related that Bollingbrook switched to a UHF frequency for their alerting system. He agreed to assist as well.
· Box Alarm Cards Chief Bouma questioned status of model box alarm cards. It was agreed to put this matter on the October agenda.
VIII. STARCOM21 (Motorola Representatives)
Joe Galvin distributed a draft Frequently Asked Question’s document concerning the STARCOM21 system. The committee reviewed the document and offered several suggestions.
Numerous issues concerning control stations were discussed. D/C Rauter questioned security issues surrounding official (secure) communications. Motorola reported 155 sites have been shipped with construction completed at approximately 125 sites. Once testing is completed in an area, Motorola will turn on a Homeland Security region.
Motorola reported that a statewide talkgroup will be programmed into each radio. Each Homeland Security Region will also have its own talkgroup. The need for better definitions concerning monthly vs. annual operational costs, testing and training use, etc.
The Committee recommended that the NISPAC Channels be preprogrammed into all STARCOM radios.
The need for user groups was stressed. Mr. Galvin reported that larger users will have direct representation on the users group. Smaller users will be represented by a larger group.
Motorola reported that the radios will be maintained by Motorola, in the field, for a five (5) year period.
A lengthy discussion ensued concerning the merits of the STARCOM21 system for the majority of Illinois fire departments as well as for the timely and accurate dissemination of critical and/or secure information to all fire departments. The Committee recognizes that the STARCOM21 system will be built, however, it was agreed that the STARCOM21 is not an interoperability solution for the fire service in Illinois. The Committee will evaluate other methods for secure information dissemination to fire departments and public safety dispatch centers.
IX. New Business
None
X. Adjournment
Chief Dato moved to adjourn the meeting. Second by D/C Rauter. All AYES; the meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m.
The next meeting for the MABAS Communications Committee is scheduled for Monday, October 18, 2004 at 1000 hours. The location of the meeting will be at the Lisle Village Hall, behind Station 1, at 925 Burlington. Please mark your calendars.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul Maplethorpe
Paul Maplethorpe Co-Chair I.
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