East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met Aug. 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The August 11, 2025, special joint meeting of the Olney City  Council was called to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Olney City Hall located at 300  S. Whittle Avenue, Olney, Illinois, with Mayor Mark Lambird presiding.  

AGENDA #2 “PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG-PRAYER” Council members and visitors  joined in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mayor Lambird led the group in prayer. 

AGENDA #3 “CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL” The following Council members were present: Matt  Miller, Bryce Fehrenbacher, Julia Eichhorst, Jack Eyer, and Mark Lambird. Also present were City  Manager Allen Barker, City Clerk Kelsie Sterchi, City Treasurer Jane Guinn, and City Attorney Bart  Zuber. 

AGENDA #4 “COUNTY BOARD ROLL CALL” The following County Board members were present:  Brian VanBlaricum, Dennis Graves, Alexis McFarland, Cynthia Given, Morgan Henton, Travis  Paddock, and Steve Schonert. County Clerk Amanda Troyer was also present.  

AGENDA #5 “PUBLIC COMMENTS/PRESENTATIONS” No one from the public wished to speak. 

AGENDA #6 “DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE RESOLUTION: AUTHORIZE CONTRIBUTION OF  FUNDS TO THE COUNTY-WIDE RADIO PROJECT” The Council was provided with a proposed  resolution that would authorize contribution of funds to the County-Wide Radio Project. The Council  was also provided with a $677,574.00 quote from Global Technical Systems Inc. (GTSi) and a  $890,500.00 quote from VEI Communications. 

Interim Fire Chief Daron Harmon, Police Chief Justin Bloomer, and Richland County Sheriff  Andrew Hires were present to discuss the project and answer questions. 

Interim Chief Harmon told the Council that Requests for Proposal were issued a while back with  2 proposals received. The low proposal was from GTSi at a price of $677,574.00. 

County Board Member Schonert asked if the proposals included Claremont. Interim Chief  Harmon indicated so, but pointed out that these proposals were for infrastructure only and not the radios  themselves. He believed that all first-responding organizations would be purchasing their own radios. 

Councilman Miller asked how many mobile radios the Fire Department needed versus portable  radios. Interim Chief Harmon stated that he looked to purchase 7 mobile radios as a result of this project  and 14 mobile radios. He expected the cost per radio to be between $1,200.00 and $1,400.00. He also 

pointed out that if all entities purchased their needed radios together, better bulk pricing could be  received. 

Interim Chief Harmon continued to say that mobile radios for the Fire Department would be  different than mobile radios for law enforcement. The Fire Department needed dual-head radios, and  those could run about $3,500.00 each. The law enforcement mobile radios would cost less.  

Councilman Miller asked if appropriate licensing was in place. Interim Chief Harmon replied  that licenses would not be needed on the portable radios. Needed licensing was included in the  $3,500.00 estimate.  

Police Chief Bloomer stated that he would need 17 portable radios and 10 mobile radios. The  portables and mobiles would be approximately $1,800.00 each and would include license fees. 

Interim Chief Harmon felt that the City would be spending about $97,000.00 on radios alone. If  this were to be the case, Councilman Miller noted that would take up almost the entire $100,000.00 that  the City had budgeted to contribute to the entire project. He wondered if any other organization may  able to make up the $27,000.00 difference. 

Interim Chief Harmon felt that the 911 Board may be able to provide more funding or access to a  grant that may help. Sheriff Hires agreed that the 911 Board may be a good option, and he offered that a  special meeting of that Board may need to take place. 

Councilman Miller saw that about two to three tower locations were on grain legs. He wondered  if the extension of electrical service was included in the proposals. Sheriff Hires said it was not. No  matter where towers were located, a long-term lease would be needed for maintenance access. He  hoped these leases would come without a lease fee. Also, if needed, a portable generator could be added  in these areas. Overall, electrical needs at these sites would be minimal and should not be noticeable on  an electric bill. 

Councilman Fehrenbacher asked for backup power plans in case of emergency. While not  required, the Sheriff reiterated his plan to utilize portable generators. 

From the audience, Firefighter Logan Muston stated that each site would already have eight  hours of battery backup power. 

Councilwoman Eichhorst asked for the project timeline. From the audience, a representative of  GTSi indicated that the biggest factor in the timeline was Federal government licensing. Sometimes the  turnaround on the licensing could be 6 weeks, but it could also take 6 months. The project could not  continue forward movement without the licensing. His best good-faith estimate for a timeline would be  between 120 and 180 days.

County Board Member Schonert asked if a representative of VEI was present. No one from the  audience indicated that they were representatives of VEI. 

County Board Member Schonert then asked if organizations had dealings with GTSi or VEI.  Sheriff Hires said he had worked with both companies and had no particular preference. 

County Board Member Schonert noted that the proposals included references. He wondered if  any references had been contacted. Sheriff Hires and County Board Member Given indicated so. Each  set of references only spoke well about each respective company. 

Sheriff Hires then told those present that beyond the initial cost for the project, there would also  be a yearly maintenance fee that would range between $35,000.00 and $40,000.00 per year. He felt it  was possible to incorporate that into the JEDS’ budget. Insurance would also be needed. 

Councilman Miller asked who would own the infrastructure. Sheriff Hires felt that could be  owned by JEDS or the 911 Board.  

Mayor Lambird asked who carried insurance on the 911 console. Sheriff Hires thought it was  likely Richland County since it was inside of a County building.  

Councilman Miller moved to table the topic until funding information was given by the 911  Board, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. 

Interim Chief Harmon said that bid acceptance was due by Wednesday [an extension was later  received]. 

AGENDA #7 “ADJOURN” With no further business to discuss, County Board Member Given moved  to adjourn, seconded by County Board Member Henton. A majority affirmative voice vote was  received. 

The meeting adjourned at 5:53 p.m. 

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