Habersham County Leaders celebrate start of New Public Safety Radio System

While completion is not expected until 2025, Habersham County leaders and their partners are celebrating the beginning of work on the county’s new P25 Public Safety Radio System. Work on several radio tower sites has begun, so Tuesday’s event was a ceremonial event bringing together all of Habersham County public safety agencies, as well as city partners, the school system, Northeast Georgia Health System, Piedmont University, Franklin County, and other potential partners. The ceremony began with the arrival of Air Methods’ Air Life Georgia 2 medical helicopter, which is based at the Habersham County Airport in Baldwin. The medical helicopter served as a backdrop as Habersham County Commission Chairman Ty Akins, E-911/Emergency Management Agency Director Lynn Smith, Emergency Services Director/Chief Jeff Adams, and Sheriff Joey Terrell discussed why the new radio system is critical to the safety of responders, but also is keeping those personnel in contact with dispatchers to ensure the fastest and safest response to those experiencing emergencies. “The exciting part is this Project-25 Trunked Radio Network may expand beyond our county’s borders, connecting our responders with our neighbors and helping us move ahead with the least amount of financial impact for our respective taxpayers,” Akins told those gathered. “We have listened to all the cities, schools, and outside departments so that we could all work together.” Following the brief ceremony, Akins and public safety leaders were joined by Habersham County Commissioners Bruce Harkness and Bruce Palmer, County Manager Alicia Vaughn, Public Works Director Jerry Baggett, Habersham County Schools Transportation Director Stephanie Walker, Mt. Airy Mayor Ray McAllister, Mt. Airy Police Chief Jamie Bowden, and Baldwin Assistant Fire Chief Shaun Benfield for some photos shoveling dirt.