The 9-11 Commission recommendations adopted by the U.S. House last week could boost Department of Homeland Security funding for Macomb County, particularly to pay for high-tech, twoway radios for police and firefighters.

The legislation, which still faces Senate approval, embraces the 9-11 Commission plan to put greater emphasis on those states and cities deemed potential terrorism targets when distributing federal funds. Michigan, as a border state, is in the high-risk category outlined in the bill.

"It could be good news. Here's an opportunity to get more funding for Michigan, and then fight for a fair share for Macomb," said U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, a Royal Oak Democrat who represents most of Macomb County.

Levin said he's particularly interested in securing funds to assist a plan to create a universal radio system for Macomb's police, firefighters and paramedics. So far, 10 departments have joined the emerging communications system, which would allow all first-responders to talk with each other.

"The lack of a unified system has always put Macomb at risk in times of an emergency," Levin said.

Lou Mioduszewski, director of emergency management for Macomb County, is more skeptical that the legislation will benefit the county. Mioduszewski is still stinging from a 2006 congressional budget process that offered Macomb a $2.5 million appropriation last year then pulled it away this year.

"This (new legislation) will probably result in more funds; it's hard to say. Too early to tell," Mioduszewski said.

The county official said he's especially doubtful that a proposed increase in the $3.3 million allocation for southeast Michigan will filter down to Macomb. The money is targeted for six counties in the area, plus the city of Detroit. But a committee that oversees fund disbursement for the region has been engaged in a "big power struggle," with favoritism showed toward Detroit and Wayne County, Mioduszewski said.

"That (additional funding) is a big maybe. It depends how much pull Macomb County has," he said. "I'm going to fight for our full share."

The Macomb County Board of Commissioners committed in 2003 to creating a countywide, state-of-the-art radio system for all police, firefighters and paramedics. The county provided $13.2 million to convert the Sheriff 's Department to the 800-megahertz system and to construct towers needed for such a network.

But numerous cash-strapped municipalities have struggled to pay their share for joining the system, which requires new portable radios, advanced mobile radios for vehicles, and upgrades to radio equipment at their base station. The portable radios alone cost about $2,500 each.

The county's effort fits the priority established by the 9/11 Commission and many lawmakers to fund "interoperable" radios that improve emergency communications among first responders.

The new system will: allow all 61 police, fire and EMS agencies across the county to communicate with each other; eliminate "dead spots" that prevent communications in some sections of the county; and improve the ability of police and firefighters to talk via portable radios while inside buildings.

In addition to the 10 departments that are already on board, Utica, Fraser, Roseville, Eastpointe, New Haven and St. Clair Shores are expected to join the radio network in the coming weeks.

Officials say that several fire departments, mostly in north Macomb - Richmond, Ray Township, Lenox Township and Macomb Township - hope to sign on soon. Every agency in the county should be hooked in by the end of the year, Mioduszewski said, except for Clinton Township, which will employ a temporary, technical solution that will allow them to "patch in."

On Tuesday, the Sterling Heights City Council approved a $1.6 million funding package, relying on a bond issue, to complete their city?s conversion to the new system.

In Harrison Township, Fire Chief Carl Seitz said he is about halfway toward completing the project, with a price tag of $120,000 to $135,000, of putting his 30-member department on line. The township has received two small federal grants worth approximately $25,000 and any boost in funding from Washington would be welcome, said Seitz, who was appointed chief in 2005.

"My goal is to come on board sometime this year," he said. "We have a plan in place to get this done. Since we started, we've been looking under rocks for money."
 

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