Vivian Sade, Vivian Sade The Journal Gazette

New Haven and Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority have never had to pay maintenance fees for the county’s 9-1-1 call center system, but they will beginning Jan. 1.

The Consolidated Communications Partnership, a city-county board that oversees the merged dispatch operations, voted Tuesday to begin charging the two entities the same rate as other radio users are charged for maintenance. The board also agreed to raise that rate from $120 to $170 per radio. The rate increase will be effective Jan. 1, as well.

New Haven and the airport authority use the city-county dispatch system for day-to-day operations, said Mike Reichard, supervisor of the partnership’s radio shop.

Reichard estimates that New Haven and the airport authority have about 50 radios each, so the cost would be nearly $9,000, he said.

New Haven and the airport use the system much more frequently in comparison with other entities – such as rural fire departments – that have always paid for maintenance, Reichard said.

Maintenance of the radios is about $600,000 a year and there are about 3,500 radios included in the system, Reichard said.

It will be an increase for New Haven and the airport, but up to now, they have paid nothing, Pete Kelley, city fire chief and president of the board, said.

“In the long run, this will help out the entire system,” Kelly said.

Scott Hinderman, executive director of the airport authority, was unaware that the board had been discussing charging the airport maintenance fees.

“If they talked to someone at the airport, I am unaware of it,” he said. “If there’s going to be a fee, obviously we will work that into our budget and pay it.”

But, the airport will also take inventory of their radios and, if necessary, look at eliminating any surplus, he said.

New Haven Police Chief Steve Poiry was also unaware of the board’s decision, he said.

“I’ve asked to be put on that mailing list, but they have not communicated with me,” Poiry said. “Hopefully, they will send me some documentation.”

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