Mojave County’s first responders were among those on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic. And it might seem obvious that they would benefit from the county’s pool of coronavirus relief funds.
The Mojave County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote next week on whether to approve a proposal to use $810,000 in funds under the American Rescue Plans Act of 2021 to replace communication equipment for the Bullhead City Fire Department. The proposal was issued by Mojave County Superintendent Hildy Angius and follows a similar proposal by Superintendent Ron Gould to replace communications equipment used by the Desert Hills Fire Department. Gould’s proposal was approved by the county board of directors last month.
According to the Feb. 27 memorandum, the Bullhead City Fire Department’s radio is outdated and has challenged the agency in attempting to communicate with fire and emergency medical services in Fort Mohave Mesa and the Mohave Valley Fire Districts. is presented. The Bullhead Fire District serves approximately 42,232 residents and covers his 54 square miles of territory in West Mojave County.
The Desert Hills Fire District raised $100,000 in its own funding for new communications equipment after facing significant challenges during the pandemic as EMT responded to calls from residents who may have been infected with the coronavirus. is expected to receive The district was unable to upgrade its communications equipment last year because it had to purchase protective gear for paramedics and firefighters during the pandemic, according to county records.
Last month, the county board unanimously approved the ARPA-funded purchase of new communications equipment for the Desert Hills Fire District.
The board plans to vote at its next board meeting in Kingman on Monday on whether to approve the $810,000 cost for upgraded communications equipment in Bullhead.
