Leader chosen for Piscataquis County emergency radio project
DOVER-FOXCROFT — A project manager to oversee the improvement of the Piscataquis County emergency radio system was approved by the Piscataquis County Commissioners during a Tuesday morning meeting.
Chris Lavoie, the Penobscot Regional Communications Center director, was recommended for the role after interviews by a sub-committee of the larger radio committee. Lavoie helped oversee a similar communications upgrade in neighboring Penobscot County, County Manager Mike Williams said.
A formal contract will be signed, but Lavoie has a verbal agreement in place to work on an as needed basis for $85 an hour over the estimated two years-plus of the project.
Williams, Brownville Fire Chief Shaw Mitchell and Greenville Police Jim Carr conducted interviews for the project manager.
“All three of us on the committee thought he was the best person of the handful of people we interviewed,” the county manager said.
Project consultant Normand Boucher from Communications Design Consulting Group of Barrington, New Hampshire, had input in the project manager hire. Boucher recommended Lavoie, as the two have worked together previously
The interview committee “felt that Chris would be the best fit for what we are doing based on a couple of things,” Mitchell said. He cited Lavoie’s experience in doing a similar project in Penobscot County, his familiarity with Piscataquis County’s terrain and geography, and his experience with the tower companies that will be required to complete the project.
Lavoie, who attended the meeting virtually, said he looks forward to working with the county.
A contract will be put in place now that the commissioners have approved the interview committee’s project manager selection, Williams said after the meeting.
With Lavoie working as needed, the hours per week will vary. The county manager estimated that Lavoie will likely work 1,000-1,500 hours over the next two to two and a half years to complete the project.
A rate of $85 an hour would be $85,000 to $127,500 over the time of the project.
The rate is about average from figures Williams researched. He said there are project manager certifications for the highest pay scale and while Lavoie does not have these, he does have project experience in Penobscot County.
“He can probably think of stuff before us as a committee,” Williams said.
Since 2020, Piscataquis County and municipal emergency officials have been working to update outdated infrastructure with the county’s radio communications for emergency personnel. Many of the problems stem from the hilly and mountainous terrain of the region and aging infrastructure.
After delays due to questions on funding sources, the endeavor is now being overseen by a six-member committee. There also is a 15-member subcommittee including town managers, fire chiefs, police department members, emergency medical service providers and representatives of CPKC Railroad.
County officials have recently been discussing funding options. Last fall, Boucher said seven new tower sites would cost $2,695,000 above the $4.2 million already awarded in federal monies for radio infrastructure, to bring the project to about $6.9 million total, an amount that still needs to be finalized.
There is no guarantee that funds will be secured, but grant possibilities could reduce the near $2.7 million cost, which may go out to a bond if the county commissioners decide to go that route.
The county paid Communications Design Consulting Group $27,000 for a feasibility study on radio communications, which was first presented in November 2021. Before the feasibility study, Boucher spent months meeting with members of area fire and police departments and toured sites around the region, including locations of about a dozen transmitters.