CHENANGO COUNTY – After being awarded a six million dollar grant Chenango County officials have confirmed that they’re seeking another six million dollars with the hope of completing a communication system overhaul.

Chenango County Fire Coordinator and Emergency Management Director Matthew Beckwith said Chenango County recently received six million dollars as part of phase one of the 2018 Statewide Interoperable Communications Targeted Grant Program.

Beckwith said the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant has allowed counties to make vital improvements in the way first responders can communicate between each other and different regions of the state using land mobile radio systems.

He said many aspects of Chenango County’s radio system are “end of life” meaning the manufactures that made the systems are no longer in existence, which can make finding parts difficult.

“Our radio system was built in the early 2000’s, and we found that many of the parts that were used to build it are no longer being provided by their former manufacturers,” said Beckwith. “We also have to replace our microwave dishes, which are at maximum capacity meaning we’re not able to add any additional radio systems at this time.”