Torrance County will use nearly $220,000 in federal funding to purchase new radios for first responders, officials announced last week.
The county received $219,971.73 in Title III funding from the U.S. Forest Service for county projects. Officials plan to use the money to buy new radios that will improve communication between emergency personnel, mutual aid partners and the dispatch center.
“The purchase of new radios will allow the County to have improved interoperability throughout the County, with mutual aid partners and improve responder safety through communication with the Dispatch Center,” county officials said in the announcement.
Title III funds can be used for various emergency response purposes when services are performed on national forest or Bureau of Land Management lands. Eligible expenses include emergency personnel wages, equipment repair and replacement, training costs, protective equipment, 911 system upgrades and community wildfire protection plan implementation.
The county has opened a required 45-day public comment period for residents to voice questions, concerns or suggestions about how the federal funds will be spent.
Public comments must be submitted by email to sodell@tcnm.us before Oct. 14.
The Title III program provides funding to counties that contain national forest lands to support emergency response capabilities and forest management activities.
