Commerce — At its Oct. 15 meeting, the Commerce City Council authorized multiple measures to upgrade the city’s public-safety radio system, approve preventative antenna replacement on the city’s public-safety tower and secure financing to pay for the equipment.

The council approved an interlocal cooperative purchasing agreement with Hunt County that will permit Commerce to buy radios and related equipment through Hunt County’s contract with L3 Harris, the city manager said. The county’s procurement, city staff said, includes a negotiated discount that the city wants to use to reduce equipment costs.

Why it matters: City staff said the purchases will let police, fire and emergency operations use a common system that aligns with Hunt County’s infrastructure. Staff also said taking advantage of the county contract will avoid a separate, costly procurement process for the city.

City manager Robert Lisenby told the council Hunt County “went through an exhaustive selection process” and that the interlocal agreement will allow Commerce “to purchase directly from L3 at the 45% discount price without going through a whole extensive and expensive procurement process of our own.”

The council next approved a not-to-exceed $71,000 contract with Cato (Kato) Communications LLC to replace fiberglass antennas atop the Commerce Public Safety Tower and to replace other dispatch-center components so the city’s consoles and gateways are compatible with the county system. Fire Chief Chris Bassam described the work as “somewhat of a preventive maintenance item” and said about “15” antennas have reached end of life and showed signs of splitting.

The council then authorized the purchase of handheld and vehicle radios from L3 Harris in an amount not to exceed $570,000. Chief Bassam said the order must be placed before the end of the year to lock in the county’s negotiated 45% discount; delivery times are subject to manufacturing schedules, he added.

To pay for the purchases, the council approved financing through Government Capital Corporation. Assistant City Manager for Financial Services Jamie Campbell told the council the financing amount and terms were updated during the presentation: the loan will be for $639,371.70 with an annual payment schedule over seven years and an interest rate she described as 5.255%.

Campbell said the city selected the financing route using the Public Property Finance Act procedure, citing local statute 271.005, and explained the lien in that arrangement attaches to city revenue rather than being a typical equipment lien. “We are kind of in a time crunch when it comes to locking in these rates, and locking in… the actual purchase of all the equipment,” Campbell said.

Votes at a glance: The council voted to approve the cooperative purchasing interlocal with Hunt County; to award the antenna and dispatch-component contract to Cato Communications LLC (not to exceed $71,000); to authorize the purchase of radios from L3 Harris (not to exceed $570,000); and to approve financing through Government Capital Corporation (loan $639,371.70). All four motions were moved, seconded and carried by voice vote (motion carries; tallies not specified in the record).

What’s next: Staff said orders for antennas and radios will be placed “pretty soon” and that lead times observed range from about six weeks to longer depending on manufacturing and existing orders. City staff said funding is included in the FY2025 capital expenditures budget and that some equipment will also support the city’s emergency operations center.