JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown Police & Fire Committee made the recommendation Thursday to approve the purchase of new radios for the Jamestown Fire Department.

Jamestown Fire Chief Jim Reuther informed the committee that they were looking to purchase 18 new portable radios for the department at a price of $36,576 through the budgeted account. Reuther says there’s a three-phase process to update the department’s communication equipment.

Once purchased, the department will look to update their base station at the Stutsman County Correctional Center. Chief Reuther says most radios have a life expectancy of 7 years. The current radios have been in use for the past 13 years. The committee unanimously approved.

Later in the meeting, Reuther informed the committee of replacing the siren in the Southeast part of Jamestown in the Frontier Village.

Reuther says the siren sits on a 20 foot pole, adding to the lack of coverage of the sirens in Jamestown. To replace the siren, it would cost approximately $25,439. Reuther says they’ll also need to look at adding more sirens in the future.

The new siren would be installed on a 55 foot pole and will rotate, increasing the coverage of the siren in that area. The project would be funded through the General Fund from the miscellaneous category.

The committee made the approval to move the decision to the September Council meeting with no recommendation.