SAINT CLAIR - A new and improved radio system currently being tested by Saint Clair police for installation was reviewed by the borough council Thursday at their workshop.
The fire department, EMS and law enforcement will have the ability to communicate with each other with the new system. Previously, communication was only possible if a unit had multiple radios on hand.
The old radio system used by law enforcement has been around for 36 years, which is ancient for electronics.
The new, digital system is currently undergoing drive testing, which is where a county is divided up into grids and each grid is tested. Schuylkill County has been doing their own informal testing for the past nine months.
In order to increase officer and residential safety, the radio system works in places such as schools and Wal-Mart. Schools will be able to talk to police during an incident rather than calling 911.
The system will be encrypted, which means a scanner will not pick up conversations over the new system. This will eliminate the ability of criminals to listen in.
Each portable radio has a GPS, so if an officer is in trouble, they can press a button on the radio that will send their coordinates and open the microphone for 30 seconds. The message will be heard on a separate channel that is monitored at all times.
In other business, the Saint Clair pool has a major leak that cannot currently be located. The pool cannot be refilled until it is fixed. Once fixed, the pool can be opened in about two weeks.
The Taco Bell planned for the Coal Creek Plaza is moving along quickly. The planning commission met and made final plans for the fast-food restaurant. Blue prints for their electrical set up have been received by the council and the company has contacted the fire department to implement fire protection for the building.